Anthony Joshua ‘mentally defeated HIMSELF’ against Oleksandr Usyk, claims trainer Robert Garcia

Anthony Joshua‘s trainer Robert Garcia believes the 32-year-old suffered defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia last weekend because he ‘mentally defeated himself’.

Joshua lost by way of split decision to Usyk, who successfully defended his IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight belts after staging a late surge against the British challenger.

Garcia claims his fighter was ‘mentally defeated’ by the tenth round, which entirely changed the complexion of the bout.

Robert Garcia feel that Anthony Joshua ‘mentally defeated himself’ against Oleksandr Usyk

According to Garcia, Joshua’s team told themselves the fight was theirs to lose in the ninth round, and the American trainer has since questioned the Brit’s mental strength at the highest level.

‘During that ninth round, in the corner [we] were telling ourselves we had the fight,’ he told IZQUIERDAZO. ‘Oleksandr Usyk came back stronger. 

‘I’ve even thought in these last few days that it was Joshua who mentally defeated himself.

‘Joshua was mentally defeated since round 10 or 11. Round 10 was a big one for Usyk. That changed the whole fight, and mentally we were defeated.’

 He said: ‘I’ve thought in these last few days that it was Joshua who mentally defeated himself’

 The American revealed that Joshua’s team felt the bout was theirs to lose in the ninth round

The 47-year-old trainer also admitted that his team were hoping for a knockout from Joshua – or at least a significant blow – during the final stages of the fight, as Usyk was clearly in the ascendency.

He said: ‘At that point, we were relying on a good shot or something like that, because Anthony is a hard puncher, and one shot can change a fight. 

‘That is what we were hoping for, one shot, because he was dominated at that point of the fight.’