Anthony Joshua's trainer Robert Garcia was surprised to see Oleksandr Usyk win the first fight with his new charge.
The British star lost his unified titles to Usyk last September as the Ukrainian became a world champion in just his third fight in the division. Joshua was criticised for his tactics during the fight, but will now get a second bite at defeating Usyk on August 20.
Joshua has since teamed up with experienced American coach Garcia after parting ways with long-term trainer Rob McCracken. Garcia expected Joshua's size and power would be too much for Usyk last year, but now plans to help him use them to his advantage. “Watching the first fight and the time that it happened, I didn’t expect Usyk to win to be honest," Garcia told Mirror Fighting .
"I thought the size and height and power would be too much for him [Usyk] but he won and I was happy for him. I know him and he has trained at my gym in California.
“But now I am working with Anthony. Usyk is very smart and he could change from one round to the other but that is what we have to be ready for. If I listen to what everybody else is saying [that Anthony Joshua has to be more aggressive], yes that is ideal but I know Usyk is getting ready for that too.
"His trainer knows my style, they are expecting that I have to have different options and I know that is the main thing to work on. But I know Anthony has a great jab and great reach advantage so why not use it all?"
Joshua was comprehensively outboxed on the night but showed a gritty determination to get back in the ring and avenge the loss. He initially linked up with coach Angel Fernandez and began work at Loughborough University after activating his rematch clause.
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After an extensive search for a new addition to his team, Garcia began working with Joshua and has relocated to the UK. Joshua has already bounced back once in his career having overturned defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia in 2019.
Joshua could finally set up an undisputed title clash with Tyson Fury if he progresses beyond Usyk, and Garcia believes a fight with Fury would be "awesome", but has made sure to delay any talk of a fight until after facing his upcoming opponent.
"Right now we have to get ready for Usyk," Garcia continued. "We haven’t even brought up Tyson Fury during camp, a fight with Tyson Fury of course it would be awesome if we can get through Usyk. But right now we are focused on the task at hand and beating Usyk. I know for me having a heavyweight champion of the world will be special because the heavyweight division is the biggest in the world and is the one that brings fans in to boxing."
