Former coach of ex-unified heavyweight champion (over 90.7 kg) British Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) Tony Sims in
interview expressed to local media about Joshua’s refusal to further cooperate with his longtime mentor Rob McCracken.
Tony also talked about how Anthony can defeat the unified champion from Ukraine Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) in a rematch, which is tentatively scheduled for July 23 in the Middle East.
Anthony Joshua has announced that Rob McCracken will no longer work with him. Angel Fernandez became head coach. We know that he worked with him before, I think from the second fight with Ruiz. What do you think of Angel Fernandez becoming Joshua’s head coach?
– I think Anthony took an inexperienced coach. I don’t see how he will be the only coach. I’m sure he should have kept Rob McCracken for this fight because Rob knows him inside and out. But sometimes fighters just want to change things. It is obvious that he wanted to do this. But I don’t believe that Angel Fernandez is experienced enough to prepare Joshua for this fight on his own. I believe that Anthony will bring someone more experienced to the team to work with.
“I can’t figure out how to beat Usyk.” British ex-heavyweight champion on Fury and Joshua
It looks like Joshua will be fighting Usyk in Saudi Arabia very soon. Can he become a three-time world champion in July?
Yes, he can do it. He has everything he needs. He just needs the right tactics. If you’ve watched Chisora vs Usyk, Joshua needs to be taught that tactic, only in a better way. Better pressing, smarter… then Joshua can definitely do it.
– How would you rate the first fight, because it was practically one-sided?
Joshua stood up to Usyk and believed that he would outbox and beat him at long range. But you can’t do that with Usyk. If you compete with him, he will turn it against you, because he is a perfect boxer. So in terms of boxing, that needs to be taken away from him. Like Chisora did. Press him with your size, with your strength, push him against the ropes, be rough with him, push and use weight. Joshua needs to use this tactic to be victorious.