Via Charles Brun: Coach Robert Garcia advised Anthony Joshua to delay his bout against former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder until he’s got two to three fights at a confidence level before heading into that big fight.
Robert coached Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) for his rematch with IBF, WBA & WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk last August, and he regrets that AJ didn’t adjust a few times before that bout. .
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has talked about wanting him to face the next 20th heavyweight boxer, followed by a rematch with Dillian Whyte.
Both of those bouts will be adjusted and depending on how Joshua performs in those bouts, Hearn will decide if he’s ready to face the powerful Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) .
At the moment, Joshua is in dire need of a win, as he has lost his last two fights and lost three of his last five. You can’t blame Joshua for finding a way to deal with an under-20 guy and an overzealous 35-year-old Whyte because if AJ loses again, it’s time to pack up and retire.
Joshua’s career is now on the verge of sustaining life, and he can’t take another defeat without falling to par with Derek Chisora or Whyte.
Of course, it will also depend on how Wilder’s career goes. If he loses the next fight, that will change Joshua & Hearn’s plans to use him as an opponent for a big fight.
Unfortunately, Wilder’s poor punching ability and fitness leave him vulnerable against the top 10 contenders. Wilder could lose once or twice while he waits for Joshua to take his confidence builders against the bottom eaters.
Unlike Joshua, Wilder will focus on fighting big opponents like Andy Ruiz Jr. and Usik.
Wilder is about to have a spectacular knockout victory in the first round over the fifth-placed contender Robert Helenius on October 15 in Brooklyn, New York.
Joshua can’t stand another mental crisis
“One thing I told them [Team Joshua]and now i say to them, is it I don’t advise them to look for a big fight [such as Deontay Wilder] immediately,” coach Robert Garcia told Izquierdazo.
In terms of punch resistance, Joshua won’t be helped by delaying his fight against Wilder until next year as he will still have a lot of problems executing his powerful hits then as well as now. hour.
This is not a matter of confidence with Joshua. He did not possess the chin to take the kind of power that Wilder possessed.
“Anthony is a big star in Europe, one of the biggest in history. He should be looking for two or three matches that are a bit more suitable,” Robert continued on his advice that he should stay away from Wilder. “I don’t want to say easy because there are no easy battles. He needs to regain his confidence.
“[Joshua] have the same punch power [as ‘The Bronze Bomber’ Deontaay]. Couldn’t be less powerful than Wilder. So I think whoever hits first [will win]Robert said.
