The new head coach of the former unified heavyweight champion (over 90.7 kg) from Britain Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) is a well-known American specialist Robert Garciaas well as AJ’s Spanish mentor Angel Fernandez talked to a British sports journalist.
AT interview the coaches talked about joint cooperation with Joshua in preparation for a rematch with his offender, the current holder of three titles Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs). Recall that the official announcement of revenge is expected next week.
How is your work with Anthony Joshua going?
— We work together with Angel. If I have an opinion, I talk to him; if he has an opinion, he talks to me. We get along well. We both got together and are having a great training camp with Joshua.
— Would it be true to say that you have coached 14 world champions?
I have coached more world champions, but I have made 14 world champions. I won the title with fourteen different fighters.
What about Joshua? Do you feel like you can do with it for a potential 3 years?
“I think if everything goes well, Joshua will be my fifteenth, which is great. This will be my first heavyweight champion. It’s incredible. Together with Ángel and with the work he does, with the passion he has for this sport… He is young and wants to be mentioned among the best coaches in the world. And he is able to get there with his roster of fighters. I have no doubt about it.
Kubrat Pulev predicted a rematch between Usyk and Joshua
— You are the best coach of 2012. If you win the rematch, you could be the coach of 2022 10 years from now.
“You know, that’s not what I’m looking at. To be honest, there are a lot of great coaches and a lot of amazing fighters doing their job. We have Haney, who became the undisputed champion. There is Charlo, who also became the absolute champion. They both have great coaches. I do not want to say that I will be the best, but it will be a great victory for me. I don’t care who wins Coach of the Year. I just want to make my first world heavyweight champion.
“People say that in a rematch, Joshua should try to knock out Usyk to win. How will you approach the fight in your first fight with him?
– Anthony has an advantage in arm span, in rigidity and also an advantage in strength. I think it’s perfect, but we can’t go into the ring thinking like that. I think we have to get into the ring smart. Think smart and win the fight. And it doesn’t matter what Usyk will offer us, and how Usyk will conduct the fight. Maybe he will come out completely different, and we will have to box. We are preparing for everything Usyk has to offer.
— [обращается к Анхелю Фернандесу] Obviously, the tactics in the rematch will be different from the first fight. Obviously she was wrong. Several adjustments need to be made.
– Of course yes. Me and Robert were rewatching the fight. We’ve brought in three things to work on, and that’s what we’re doing at this camp. You will definitely see another Joshua next time and the guy will be ready. He will be ready for anything.
– Will you soon become the coach of the year with your roster of fighters?
— [смеётся] Let’s hope.
Are we learning from the best?
– 100%.
How Usyk and Joshua will share the prize fund: Hearn left a direct answer
