ANTHONY JOSHUA is running from the truth by changing his coaches, claims his next opponent Jermaine Franklin.
The 33-year-old launches his comeback against American Franklin, 29, on April 1 — with Texan trainer Derrick James now in his corner.
Rob McCracken was axed after ten years following AJ’s first defeat by Oleksandr Usyk.
Replacement Robert Garcia went after the rematch loss with the Ukrainian.
Fellow coach Angel Fernandez also got the boot from the Brit’s team after just four bouts.
Franklin said: “Maybe he’s just trying to find the trainer that he’s most comfortable with.
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“But I feel like you and your trainer should have a real solid relationship — win, lose or draw.
“Early on when you’re with these people, they don’t get paid, they’ve been with you for years, they know you inside and out.
“Your relationship might get a little shaky but it’s up to you how you fix it and bring it together.
“If you’re not liking some stuff your coach is doing, you should be able to talk to him and tell him, ‘I need you to do this and this’.
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“If you can’t reconcile, that’s OK, this is business. It’s OK to go and get another coach but I would at least try to fix what’s going on first.
“Every time you lose might not be your trainer’s fault, it could be you. I don’t blame the trainer. This is the third trainer he’s had in three fights.
“At what point do you start blaming yourself and not the trainer?
“It can’t be every trainer. Not every trainer can be making you lose.”
Joshua was stunned by a stoppage loss to Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019.
He reclaimed his WBA, IBF and WBO world titles six months later with a cautious points win compared to his usual seek-and-destroy style.
Watford ace AJ has been trapped between those two modes in the three bouts since — a Kubrat Pulev KO and the back-to-back Usyk points losses.
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And Franklin fancies his chances at exploiting any confusion when they meet at London’s O2.
He added: “I feel like it’s a big opportunity for me, not because of him changing trainer but because of the other s**t we’ve seen.
“Like footwork — the Usyk fights surprised me a little bit. It was a different AJ as a fighter. I’ve been watching that, studying that.
“Footwork of his is a big thing. I don’t think people see it because he’s such a bully and dominating that they don’t see some of the mistakes he makes with his feet.
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“I’m used to seeing AJ like a raging bull. Even though he’s not overly aggressive, he’s dominant.
“But in the Usyk fights, it was weird to see this little guy pot-shotting him.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
