By: Sean Crose
ESPN reports that former IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweights Anthony Joshua will now team up with celebrity trainer Robert Garcia in a rematch against Oleksandr Usyk. It was Usyk of Ukraine who defeated the famous British tennis player Joshua last year, as a result of which Joshua was stripped of his title for the second time. Joshua was an undefeated tennis player when he was stopped by Andy Ruiz in stunning style in 2019. Joshua came back and beat Ruiz with ease six months later and managed to hold on to his won title. until meeting former undisputed cruiser champion Usyk last fall.
The truth is that Usyk proved to be much more skilled than Joshua when the two competed. Ruiz stopped Joshua, truth be told, but a change in strategy – and arguably Ruiz’s laziness in camp – resulted in Joshua winning a side win in the rematch. Things may not be quite so simple with Usyk. All it took to avenge the loss to Ruiz was for Joshua to essentially transition from a boxer to a boxer. Usyk is a more nuanced martial artist than that. Regardless of how he goes up against him in an all-but-guaranteed rematch, Joshua won’t have an easy time with Usyk.
Thus, the call is reported to Robert Garcia, a prestigious former athlete who owns and operates one of the most highly regarded gyms in the country. Garcia not only trained his younger brother, Mikey, he was also the one who trained Marcos Maidana to push the great Floyd Mayweather to his limits. And those are simply a few of Garcia’s accomplishments. It will be interesting to see how Garcia instructs Joshua to adjust his match if the ESPN report proves to be true. Longtime Joshua’s coach Robert McCracken – according to ESPN at least – is no longer with Joshua’s team.
One thing’s for sure – Joshua has to strengthen his fight. He can’t bully the smaller Usyk, and neither can Joshua use his height to his advantage, at least not the way he tried in the first fight. Usyk is a pro and will need a special game plan for Joshua to beat him. However, Joshua knows what it means to be in this position. He’s been here before and won. Whether he can balance the loss of Usyk with a win in the rematch is up to him… and of course, Usyk.
And maybe Robert Garcia.
