After some time to reflect on Anthony Joshua’s latest performance against Oleksandr Usyk, where he put in a valiant effort but still fell short, his trainer Robert Garcia speaks to Fight Hype about his thoughts on what happened and what’s to come. . Take a look at some of what Garcia had to say below.
Garcia on Joshua receiving credit for performing better against Usyk in their rematch despite the loss
“I am very happy and proud of what we did and what Anthony did. Angel Fernandez, myself, we were both on the same page training Anthony and Anthony came out and did it, obviously not enough, because we didn’t get the win, but he did what very few expected.
“Everyone thought it would be another easy fight for Usyk, but it wasn’t. I think he did much better than the first time, that’s what everyone tells me, everyone gave us credit for it, so I’m very happy. You know, I hate to lose, but I’m happy and proud of what we did together, being my first fight with Anthony against Usyk: it was tough, it was going to be tough. But we almost made it, man. We almost had it. But if they no longer count…
“If we go into this Fury fight, I believe and I will push Anthony a little bit more. You know, this is my first fight with him, you also have to be careful how hard you push them because you don’t know the bodies, you don’t know the fighters. Some fighters react differently, others don’t. Some fighters don’t like it that much. So I didn’t get a chance to get to know him that well.
“I would have preferred something like two or three fights before fighting something as big as Usyk. Just like now, going straight to Fury: I would prefer two or three fights, he learns more from me, I learn more from him, I teach him different things and then within two or three fights he will have a lot more. better presentation. But Anthony also loves those challenges, which is why he went straight to the rematch with Usyk.
“Now they are talking about Fury and he immediately accepted it because he loves those challenges. I have been talking to the management team and we are all ready to fight. We accept the challenge and hope it happens.”
On whether he expects Fury to be an even tougher fight than Olekandr Usyk
“You know what, it’s going to be hard, maybe harder, but not that hard. Usyk, his style, being southpaw and being those angles that he uses, that makes it difficult. Harder (against Fury) because he is bigger, stronger, heavier. Yes, it will be a tougher fight just because of the size and weight. But Anthony has great speed, great power, so I think he’ll land more on Fury than he could on Usyk.”
