Anthony Joshua Picks Robert Garcia As Trainer For Usyk Rematch

The mystery of whom will work with former unified heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua in the lead up to his rematch with now champ Oleksandr Uysyk in their rematch later this Summer has been answered. And, instead of a British coach, it will instead by prominent American Robert Garcia who will be in his corner.

The Daily Mirror in England had more Monday afternoon on the Joshua news, that he’d decided on Garcia out of a small group of elite corner choices,

Anthony Joshua recruits Robert Garcia as new trainer for Oleksandr Usyk rematchhttps://t.co/FyCyaQmJ9i pic.twitter.com/ZQOiXvsuH8

— Mirror Fighting (@MirrorFighting) May 30, 2022

From their item,

“Joshua has been searching for a replacement for long-time trainer Robert McCracken who came in for criticism after Joshua was outpointed by Usyk last September. The 32-year-old toured America late last year and visited several gyms, including Garcia’s…

Garcia was a world champion as a fighter, winning a super-featherweight title in 1998 before losing it the following year.

Garcia was also voted Trainer of the Year in 2011 after enjoying success with Brandon Rios, Nonito Donaire and younger brother Mikey Garcia….

Joshua met with four potential new trainers last October, including Garcia, as he sought to make changes to his set-up. He also met with Eddy Reynoso, Ronnie Shields and Virgil Hunter during his time in the United States before settling on Garcia.”

As we wrote previously, it looks like late July is the target for the rematch of Usyk’s impressive 2021 decision win that lifted the WBA/IBF/WBO world titles from the Brit for a second time in two years. Joshua previously was stopped in stunning fashion by unheralded American Andy Ruiz in June of 2021 before getting the belts back on a rematch decision six months later.

However, he only had more one title defense against a 38 year old, worn-down Kubrat Pulev in the Winter of 2020 to show on his record after the Ruiz rematch win before Usyk beat him last Fall.

Joshua got rid of McCracken in January, after he helped train him to an Olympic Gold Medal in 2012 and had been his only professional coach.

We still await Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing to finalize what is believed to be a July 23rd rematch date with Saudi Arabia being the leading candidate, if not back in the U.K. where their first fight was.