Anthony Joshua’s new coach revealed he LAUGHED at his tactics in Usyk defeat as he plots Brit’s comeback

DERRICK JAMES couldn’t help but laugh when he saw Anthony Joshua’s strategy for his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.

The former two-time heavyweight champion went into his rematch with the Ukrainian last August lamenting the tactics employed for their Tottenham tussle in September 2021.

Joshua, 33, was more aggressive under now-former trainer Robert Garcia but once again failed to utilise his strengths, much to the surprise of new coach James.

During an appearance on the DAZN Boxing Show, he said: “When I saw him in the Usyk fight, I thought, ‘What the heck is he doing?’

“I’m laughing.”

James, the trainer of world champions Jermall Charlo and Erroll Spence Jr, wouldn’t have had Joshua try to outbox slick southpaw Usyk.

When asked if he believed he would’ve coached AJ to victory, he said: “Yeah because I train two left-hand fighters.”

Joshua has upped sticks to Texas to train with James for his crunch comeback fight with Jermaine Franklin on April 1.

And James believes working in close proximity to Spence will do wonders for helping Joshua get his mojo back.

James said of the pair: “They’re good, they talk.

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“Errol asks him a couple of questions.

“When Errol is hitting the bag, working out, AJ is watching him.

“It’s like a mutual respect.

“That’s what most guys need to get to the next level or get that thing back that they had before.

“Even with Errol, he sees him doing some things, and they both work off each other.

“In the last four years, there’s been no gym with two unified champs, especially with an undisputed champ, especially with two champs period in the same gym.

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“Frank [Martin] is right there at #1 [at lightweight], so he’s right there to be inspired by all that stuff right there.”

Joshua is hoping to showcase his hard work with James against American gunslinger Franklin.

He said: “I’m looking forward to stepping back into the ring on April 1 at The O2 in London.

“Mentally and physically I feel ready.

“I want to put on a show and impress my coach as he has high standards.

“Franklin has a good style and a great attitude, which he has shown in recent fights.”

Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk