Carl Froch claims Anthony Joshua is ‘walking into a sea of sharks’ against Oleksandr Usyk

Former world super-middleweight champion Carl Froch has aired his concern over Anthony Joshua‘s decision to part ways with Rob McCracken and insisted the British heavyweight should retire if he loses to Oleksandr Usyk. 

Joshua is due to face Usyk for a second time on Saturday after losing his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts in an unanimous points decision at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in September last year. 

Ahead of their rematch, Sportsmail sat down with Froch to discuss AJ’s relationship with McCracken, his loss of confidence following Andy Ruiz’s victory, the style of boxing he needs to produce against Usyk and what will happen if he loses again. 

Joshua parted company with McCracken on a definitive basis earlier this summer and turned to Robert Garcia, the highly-decorated Mexican-American coach with a catalogue of world champions on his CV.

Froch worries Joshua has made the wrong decision to part ways with the British coach – claiming McCracken is a boxing ‘guru’ that can help athletes return to their best form. 

Speaking to Sportsmail’s Charlotte Daly, Froch said: ‘I looked at the original Karate Kid with my son the other day. I look at Daniel Larusso and Mr. Miyagi as me and Rob McCracken. 

‘If he says jump I say how high. If he was wax on wax off I start waxing the car. That’s the sort of relationship I had with Rob McCracken. 

‘I don’t know what the relationship with Joshua and Rob was so I can’t really comment. But, AJ brought a lot of people into the team. 

‘He had people he brought in to hold the pads. He had another couple of mouths in the corner for his fights. I don’t think I like that. 

‘Maybe it’s Rob’s mistake for letting people in. Rob told me what to do and I did it. We structured my training regime together. 

‘That being said, if Rob McCracken couldn’t get the best out of Anthony Joshua I totally understand why he has got rid of him. 

‘In his mind he needs a change and change can be a good thing if it gives him greater motivation to get up in the morning or more motivation in the gym. 

‘I would have never parted ways with Rob McCracken. I went professional because of Rob. He convinced me. 

‘He was the guru. I was very much the student. I never would have dreamed getting rid of him. 

‘I still think it was potentially a bad move [ to leave Rob McCracken] but if he performs against Usyk we’ll all be saying it was the best thing he did.’

Joshua said earlier in the week that he will be looking to be more ‘aggressive’ during his rematch against Usyk on Saturday. 

AJ told Sky Sports: ‘I wanted to outbox my opponent, whether it was Usyk or anyone else, that was the mindset [in the first fight]. ‘I wanted to outbox my opponent and on Saturday I want to smash my opponent.’ 

Joshua continued: ‘You’ve got to focus on that aggressive aspect, that competitive spirit and at the end of the day, I don’t give a damn about your jab, I don’t care how good that jab is, I don’t care how good this is. I don’t care how good you are – my competitive spirit will overcome all obstacles.

‘That is something you should never neglect in your search for improvements. Your competitive nature can take you a long way.’

Sportsmail asked Froch whether Joshua was being reckless in his approach to Saturday’s rematch or whether he was showing the required determination needed to excel. 

The former boxing legend said: ‘Joshua used to be aggressive. When he fought Dillian Whyte he got involved. He got clipped on the chin. His legs were also gone and he did a little wobble. 

‘He showed a lot of confidence during that time. It was early on in his career so maybe he was a little naive. He just used to get stuck in and have a fight. Boxing is boxing. 

‘Joshua has shown he can do both. He is a good boxer that has won an Olympic medal. We’ve seen him fight against Whyte and Klitschko. He put in a really good performance against Povetkin. 

‘AJ can box and he can fight. It would be nice to see him get back fighting again – letting some punches go. Have a bit of a scrap and a bit of a dust up. Even a roll around on the cobbles. 

‘But, Usyk is not the type of guy that will let you do what you want to do. Everyone is saying AJ has to use his height and his reach. He has to push forwards etc but by being more aggressive he is at risk of a counter punch. Especially against Usyk who has so much talent. AJ could just be walking into sharks. 

‘Joshua has to be educated. He can’t go full steam ahead – bull in a china shop mentality like Joe Joyce. 

‘Joyce would probably get away with it because that is his style. He just walks forwards throwing punches and get hit with a load of shots but somehow manages to stay on his feet. Joshua can’t do that. AJ gets clipped and he gets hurt.’

Froch went on to explain how Joshua’s mentality heading into the fight would be the defining factor behind whether he wins or loses the rematch. 

Froch said: ‘Joshua’s got to get in that ring and think 100 per cent I can do it. You always get those doubts on the ring walk and those little demons before the bell goes but he’s got to be throwing punches with confidence and moving forwards with belief. If he believes in himself he will do it.

‘When I boxed Andre Ward I didn’t believe in myself. I haven’t told many people that but I didn’t believe in myself. I got in there thinking I couldn’t win.

‘I just thought if I can’t land a jab because I’m not quick enough and I can’t catch him with my right hand I would have to knock him out. 

‘You go down and down into a slump. There is no way back up. So, if you don’t believe in yourself you might as well forget about it.’

Froch continued to explain how he felt as though Joshua had lost his belief after losing to Andy Ruiz during their bout in Madison Square Garden. 

He said: ‘I think AJ has been lacking belief since the Ruiz stoppage. Since he got beaten by Ruiz and his legs went he’s lacked belief. 

‘I am not going to say he quit in his corner but he was not defending himself and he wasn’t punching back. He was looking to his corner and it seemed like he’d had enough. 

‘It was sad to see because he is such a giant of a man and good fighter. I have a lot of respect for him. He was a good fighter and when he puts it all together and he believes in himself he is great to watch.

‘I think he can win this fight. But whether I think he will win it is another question. He’s certainly good enough. Look at what he did against Klitchko. He climbed off the floor when everyone thought it was all over. 

‘He’s a talent and he’s great to watch. It would be fantastic for him to win his belts back. ‘