In September, in London (England), local unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) lost the WBA Super, IBF, WBO belts to the mandatory contender Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs), after which he decided to use the revenge clause.
The second fight will take place on August 20 in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). On the eve of the fight, the loser changed the coaching staff – fired Rob McCracken, with whom he had collaborated since the amateur ring, and hired American top coach Robert Garcia.
Usyk’s promoter
Alexander Krasyuk (K2) assumesthat the new mentor will not help solve all Joshua’s troubles: “Garcia is a well-known, decisive coach. Professional to the core. He has vast experience, helped many fighters to succeed. But, firstly, he has no experience with heavyweights. And secondly, Joshua is already 30 years old. It is almost impossible to teach them something new. That is, his task is to bet on what is already there – to rely on strengths, to minimize weaknesses.
Joshua’s main problem is mental toughness, says Krasyuk: “Psychology is something you can’t train.” This is what you have been laid down from birth, formed in the family, in childhood, at school, at college. Psychology is formed by others: teachers, friends, relatives. Change everything at the age of 30? .. Joshua will not succeed, because he is already a formed man. I’m not saying that Anthony has no chance. What I’m saying is that you shouldn’t expect any solid mental changes.”
Meanwhile, expert Timothy Bradley gave Joshua a couple of tips on how to beat Usyk, and also told him what to do in case of an early defeat in a rematch.
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