ANTHONY JOSHUA was left “baffled” by comments made by his ex-trainer Robert Garcia following rematch defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
AJ parted ways with long-time coach Rob McCracken after first losing to Usyk in September 2021.
And he hired former world champion-turned esteemed cornerman Garcia for the Saudi Arabia rematch last August.
But again AJ was bettered on points by Usyk, leading to questioning from Garcia in the aftermath.
In Spanish, he told IZQUIERDAZO: “Joshua was mentally defeated since round 10 or 11.
“Round 10 was a big one for Usyk. That changed the whole fight, and mentally we were defeated.”
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He added: “I have even thought in these last few days that it was Anthony Joshua who mentally defeated himself…
“In this fight, I think that Usyk was mentally stronger.”
Garcia would claim his comments were mistranslated but is still left Joshua puzzled.
He told talkSPORT: “I just felt like, Garcia kind of said a lot, which baffled me as well.
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“But I’m not a little – what’s a word I can use on this show? – I’m not a little boy.
“I can take it, but at the same time – I can’t talk about you, and you not back yourself.
“So I said, ‘Rah, some things aren’t adding up to me, certain things that people are saying aren’t adding up.’
“So the second time I just said, ‘I’m going to make the decision this time, I’m going do it myself.’
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“And that’s how I ended up being in this position now where I am based in Texas.
“Going from the process of trying to do it, it not working, then doing it a different way but giving the coach the reigns to do it.
“And then the third time I said, ‘I’m gonna do it my way and step away from everything.’”
Joshua has now linked up with trainer of the year candidate Derrick James in Dallas.
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The pair will debut on April 1 in a return fight against Jermaine Franklin, 29, who was narrowly beaten by Dillian Whyte, 34, in November.
Joshua will for the first time in his career conduct his training camp soley abroad to avoid any home comforts.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
