Anthony Joshua's trainer has been worried about the heavyweight having a "negative mindset" after his previous defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
The British star was comfortably outpointed by Usyk last year which saw him lose his unified heavyweight titles. He will now get the opportunity to seek immediate revenge on August 20 in Saudi Arabia in a bid to become three-time champion.
Joshua is now being trained by experienced Robert Garcia who will man his corner for the bumper sequel. And the former Trainer of the Year believes Joshua holds all the physical advantages over his rival to score revenge. “When you see a fighter there are four or five different qualities that you need to be a champion and a fighter can be a champion if he only has two of them," Garcia told Mirror Fighting in an exclusive chat.
“Power, great dedication to the sport, also another key thing you have to have skills, heart and mindset. These are the little things that we need to work on. After the last fight that defeat may have affected his mindset and may have made him not believe in himself.
"That is the one thing we are needing to work on most. Does he have power? Yes and everything physically in his favour including his reach and height. Maybe a fighter in the past has been negative about himself but that is now mine and Angel Fernandez’s job to turn it around."
Joshua parted ways with long-term trainer Rob McCracken after coming into heavy criticism following his defeat Last September. The two-time champion then toured America seeking a new addition and found Garcia who has now linked up with 'AJ' in the UK.
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Garcia will man the corner alongside Joshua's coach Angel Fernandez who has worked with the Briton in previous fights. Joshua came under fire after adopting a more 'gun-shy' approach to the maiden meeting, which saw him unable to inflict any significant damage on his evasive rival.
The American trainer has admitted that he was surprised that Usyk claimed the belts in the first fight, but is preparing for all eventualities for the second showdown this summer. “Watching the first fight I didn’t expect Usyk to win to be honest," Garcia continued. "I thought the size and height and power would be too much for him but he won and I was happy for him.
"Usyk is very very smart and he could change from one round to the other but that is what we have to ready for. If I listen to what everybody else is saying yes ‘ 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?"
