Via Adam Baskin: Coach Robert Garcia is predicting a win for Anthony Joshua in his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk on August 20 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Garcia was recently hired by former unified heavyweight champion Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) to replace Robert McCracken as head coach to try to guide him to victory in his second bout against Usyk ( 19-0, 13 KOs).
As Garcia pointed out, what’s done is done. Joshua made a mistake last time against Usyk, but that’s in the past, now he’s focused on adapting, making changes to AJ’s game to not repeat what happened in September last year.
Joshua & Usyk met on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia for their first press conference to promote the rematch on DAZN pay-per-view on August 20 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
This is Joshua’s chance to avenge his loss to Usyk and become a three-time world champion.
In 2019, AJ avenged his loss to Andy Ruiz Jr by beating the Americans by unanimous decision in 12 innings by changing his fighting style from their first match in June of 2019. there.
To defeat Usyk, Joshua will adapt again, but it will be more of a return to his old fighting style as he gets more aggressive, uses his size and focuses on the power game. his strong.
“I want to congratulate Usyk and his team for all the success they have had. They are great people and a great team,” said Robert Garcia, Joshua’s new coach.
“I started back in the UK in December to work with Anthony. I see a different Anthony now, the way he thinks, the way he talks and the way he works out everything that he’s doing in the gym,” Robert said.
“I thought he fought the wrong way, and that is in the past. That already happened. Usyk is the better man, congratulations to him, but come August 20 we will do whatever it takes to win his title back.
“I know he can do it. He’s a bigger man, a stronger man, he has the advantage of reach and we’re going to take advantage of all of that. By that day, we’ll have a three-time heavyweight champion of the world,’ said Robert Garcia, predicting a win for Joshua.
“Confrontations are always exciting. We saw Anthony adapt very well in the Andy Ruiz rematch, hit a completely different fight, boxed in to instructions and won every round in that match,” said Eddie Hearn.
“We know that Oleksandr Usyk is a great fighter. You recently spoke in an interview about adaptability in a war.
“The game plan may need to change during the war and you are ready to defend all the bases as we begin this difficult mission to fight this giant,” Hearn said.
“Sure, we have to be prepared for everything,” said Robert Garcia. “Usyk is a great fighter. He has skill, he has reflexes, he has precision, he has everything. But I think Anthony has all the tools to beat him.
“We just had to do things in the gym. When I first came in December, [trainer] Angel Fernandez, who was working with us, told me a lot of things that happened in the camp.
“It was in the past, it happened. Now, it’s time to embark on what Anthony can do. If you see Anthony in the back, he’s doing the little things we did in the gym. Even on his days off, we still practice and watch videos together.
“He’s learning, he’s taking notes, he wants to win again, and as I told you, I have no doubt that on August 20th he will win again,Robert said.
“You worked with some great fighters. What will this man look like without his skin? ” told Hearn to Robert about his thoughts on working with Joshua.
“With the dedication he has and all the hard work he does in training in the gym, that drives me to do more in training camp, to win by because I know how and how much he wants it. the rest of the group wants it. That motivated me to do it.
“I want my first heavyweight world champion. I’ve had 14 world championships, and he’s going to be my 15th. He’s going to be my first heavyweight world champion, and that’s going to be huge for me too,” Robert said.
