ANTHONY JOSHUA’S new coach has been tipped to get the former heavyweight champion “applying the pressure” again.
The Brit has a huge year ahead of him as he looks to bounce back from consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua, 33, has not confirmed his new coach, but is believed to be working with Derrick James.
Roy Jones Jr reckons that James is a brilliant appointment, and can get AJ back to his best.
Jones, 54, told Pro Boxing Fans: “Great decision, great decision.
“I told him before he did it that I thought it was a great decision, a great move.
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“I said if you feel comfortable there, don’t keep going around looking. If you’re comfortable, stay where you’re comfortable.
“[I told him], don’t come to me, it’ll just confuse you more. And now he’ll be like, ‘Should I go here or…?’ No — don’t do that. If you’re comfortable there, stay there, where you’re at.
“And then a couple of days later he said OK.
“He stayed with James, and that was perfect for him because I think James may be able to get him to apply the type of pressure that he needs to apply as a bigger man when he fights people like Usyk.”
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Joshua is expected to make his much-anticipated return to the ring in early April.
As revealed by SunSport over the weekend, Jermaine Franklin is one of three names in the frame to be Joshua’s next opponent.
Franklin’s team are in talks with AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn – while Demsey McKean and Gerald Washington are also in the frame.
This will be the second time in a row that AJ has gone into a bout with a new team, having ditched Rob McCracken last year and worked with Robert Garcia ahead of his Usyk rematch.
Joshua will fight at London’s O2 Arena on April 1 for the first time in seven years.
Quizzed if AJ can be a champion again, Jones Jr said: “Of course he can. Of course he can.
“He’s a very intelligent fighter, he’s a very talented fighter. Of course he can become world champion again.”
‘JOSHUA IS AN AMAZING HEAVYWEIGHT’
Franklin’s promoter Dmitriy Salita told SunSport: “I think that Jermaine is one of the frontrunners.
“Joshua is an amazing heavyweight. But at this point the question is how much does Joshua want to test himself and risk?
“Jermaine is waiting for confirmation and the fight announcement press conference.
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“Jermaine’s side is on board as soon as Joshua gives that green light.”
Last time out in November, Franklin, 29, lost a controversial decision to Dillian Whyte at Wembley Arena.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
