ANTHONY JOSHUA has tucked himself away in Texas to prepare for his rematch with Dillian Whyte.
The former two-time unified heavyweight champion will renew his rivalry with the Brixton Body Snatcher in a domestic dust-up at the O2 Arena on August 12.
But unlike their first professional clash eight years ago, Joshua’s preparations will take place in Dallas under the watchful eye of new trainer Derrick James.
Joshua, 33, enlisted the services of James following his second successive loss to Oleksandr Usyk last August and has upped sticks to Dallas.
AJ’s new training base – the World Class Boxing Gym – is an old-school no-thrills training facility tucked away near a scrap yard in downtown Dallas.
And he’s sharpening his tools with some heavy-hitting sparring partners in preparation for the pressure-heavy Whyte.
Jeremiah Milton and Jeamie Tshikeva – who will be relative unknowns to casual boxing fans – have been brought in by Team AJ to give the Watford warrior some looks during this clash.
But he’s also brought in the experienced Michael Hunter to push him ahead of his must-win domestic dust-up.
Hunter, 35, has shared the ring with some big names during his ten-year career – including former undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk.
Joshua, 33, shared post-training snaps with the hard-hitters to his Instagram story – flexing with the trio as they dripped in sweat following several gruelling and hard rounds.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
Joshua’s clash with Whyte will be his second outing under the tutelage of James – who also trains unified welterweight champion Eroll Spence Jr and Ryan Garcia.
And his move stateside has been nothing but work-related.
Ahead of his scrappy points win over Jermaine Franklin in April, AJ said: “I haven’t seen anything.
“I’m not there for anything else. I’m a serious person, I’m not there for anything else really.
“But one thing is for sure, throughout my career, this is probably the most serious time I’ve taken it.
“In terms of my food, my sleep, the way I’m training, I study the game and everything I’ve learnt.
“Me and Jermaine could chop it up and talk boxing for hours.
“Everything I’ve learnt about boxing, I’m always putting it into another camp.
“So everything I’ve been through – positive and negative – I’m using it to fuel this camp here.
“So I’m not really there to go out for coffees and talk about bulls**t.
Read More on The Sun
“I’m there to f***ing work and put my head down and get ready for a fight.”
Joshua will go face-to-face with Whyte at a press conference in London on Monday afternoon.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
