Boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA’S former coach has taken another shot at the British boxer – claiming he instantly thought the training camp was a “joke” when they worked together.Trainer Robert Garcia was brought in by AJ last year following his first defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
Anthony Joshua and former trainer Robert Garcia’s war of words is still going onCredit: PA
And after Usyk, 36, won the rematch last August, Garcia was publicly critical of Joshua, 33, which led to his dismissal from the camp.
AJ was told afterwards that he needed a “stricter camp” after having it too “easy and quick” by the American.
Another dig was then fired by Garcia as he claimed that the 2012 Olympic Gold medallist would lose to lightweight Gervonta Davis.
The animosity between Garcia and Joshua, who previously said his first trainer Rob McCracken did not teach him defence, appears to be mutual.
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The 33-year-old Watford-born star, who has bounced back from the Usyk setbacks with a unanimous decision win over Jermaine Franklin before Saturday’s seventh round knockout of Robert Helenius, has claimed that he was taught nothing by Garcia.
But his now apparent foe hit back this week in extraordinary fashion when asked for his thoughts on AJ’s comments during an appearance on the Little Giant Boxing podcast.
He said: “I don’t really pay attention to that. I didn’t hear it. Somebody read it to me, but to me, it’s just what boxing is, man.
“When you’re with a fighter everything is going well then at the end something goes wrong and the first one to blame is the trainer.
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“One thing I will tell you, when I first got to training camp in London in England, the first week, there was things that they were doing, people involved, it’s just not my style.
“And honestly I have all the emails where I told the management team, I said please fly me home, it was a joke.”
Garcia then added: “The way it was going, the people involved, things they were doing to prepare for a fight, things were going on in training camp I would just sit and laugh by myself.
“I told the management team can you just please fly me home I’m not going to be part of this, they convinced me to stay, change things around, which I did – I changed things around and we ended up doing good.
“But one week into camp I was ready to leave camp so if that was the case [that they weren’t happy with me] they should have sent me home when I wanted to go.”
Joshua is now preparing for one of his biggest challenges yet with an expected showdown against KO artist Deontay Wilder, the former WBC heavyweight champ, in Saudi Arabia in December. More

MIKE TYSON has warned Tyson Fury he won’t put a “one-sided” beatdown on Francis Ngannou.The Gypsy King faces the former UFC heavyweight champion in a controversial crossover clash in Saudi Arabia in October.
Tyson Fury faces former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in OctoberCredit: ESPN
Boxing legend Mike Tyson will train Ngannou for the Saudi showdownCredit: TWITTER@FRANCISNGANNOU
Iron Mike is adamant The Predator will give Fury a run for his moneyCredit: INSTAGRAM@FRANCISNGANNOU
Cameroonian clubber Ngannou, 36, has enlisted the services of boxing legend Tyson for his professional debut.
And Iron Mike is adamant The Predator won’t be a heavy bag for Fury and insists he’ll give him a run for his money.
The former undisputed heavyweight champion told ESPN: “He’s had many professional fights, he’s just never experienced a professional boxing match.
“Working with him yesterday, he has the aptitude and I see a good future in his life, it’s not going to be as one-sided as people thinks it is.”
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Tyson knows Ngannou faces a near-impossible task to become the first man to beat Fury in the professional ranks.
And that’s why he plans to work him to the bone to get him ready for the toughest fight of his combat sports career.
Tyson said: “I was speaking with Francis once he came in [to the gym] and I asked him, ‘Are you sore today?’
“And he said, ‘No.’ That was a big mistake.
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“We are going to work him and exert everything he has for this particular match.
“Because he is going to have to do that, and I definitely believe that it’s going to be a tougher fight than everyone thinks”.
Ngannou’s Saudi showdown with Fury will be a ten-round affair, although the Brit’s WBC heavyweight title won’t be on the line.
The former refugee knows he faces an almighty task to get the better of Fury but is adamant he’ll pull off the greatest upset in boxing history.

He said: “My dream was always to box and to box the best.
“This is my opportunity to make that dream come true and cement my position as the baddest man on the planet.
“All I will say to Tyson for now is he better dance in that ring.
“Because if I touch him, he’s going to sleep.” More

TYSON FURY’s undisputed title fight with Oleksandr Usyk is facing yet another delay.The pair’s historic unification fight collapsed in the spring and hopes of an end-of-year showdown were scuppered when Fury accepted a crossover clash with ex-UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in October.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed fight collapsed earlier this yearCredit: REUTERS
Gypsy King Fury has further delayed the fight by taking a crossover clash with Francis NgannouCredit: ESPN
Eddie Hearn has claimed the IBF will order Filip Hrgovic, left, to face the winner of Usyk vs DuboisCredit: PA
Unified heavyweight king Usyk has had to make do with a mandatory title defence against Daniel Dubois.
But Eddie Hearn claims the Ukranian will have to deal with IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic – who retained his position with a 12th-round stoppage of Demsey McKean on Saturday – immediately after the Brit.
The Matchroom Boxing chief, who co-promotes the Croatian, told Boxing Scene: “He needed to get that fight.
“He needed to be active, and also the IBF confirmed that, after the Usyk-Dubois fight, they will call the immediate mandatory now for Filip Hrgovic.
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“So he will fight the winner of that next.”
Boxing fans had hoped Fury’s overdue clash with Usyk would take place in Saudi Arabia before the end of the year.
But promoter Frank Warren insisted the fight wouldn’t happen this year prior to the announcement of the Ngannou bout.
He told talkSPORT: “He will not be fighting on the Skill Challenge show in December because they’re talking about their show now being postponed until January.
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“I think their head of boxing Amer Abdallah said they’ll probably be moving it to the first quarter of 2024, that’s up to them.
“Prince Khaled is a fantastic person, I really like him, but in the meantime we have to move on, we are going to announce something.”
Former pound-for-pound king Usyk hasn’t held back with his criticism of Fury for facing boxing novice Ngannou.
He told Sky Sports: “The guy is going to earn some decent money.
“For Francis Ngannou, this is a great opportunity, but for Tyson Fury, it’s definitely not.”
He added: “Doesn’t it seem strange that instead of choosing a top-10 guy, he is choosing someone who has never boxed before?” More

EDDIE HEARN is adamant Anthony Joshua can “comfortably” outbox Deontay Wilder in their long overdue grudge match.The former two-time unified heavyweight champion sealed a 2024 showdown with the Bronze Bomber with an explosive knockout victory over Robert Helenius last Saturday.
Anthony Joshua secured a showdown with Deontay Wilder thanks to a brutal KO of Robert HeleniusCredit: GETTY
The pair’s showdown is expected to take place in Saudi Arabia in JanuaryCredit: GETTY
Eddie Hearn is adamant AJ can outbox devastating knockout artist WilderCredit: REUTERS
AJ picked up his second win on the bounce since consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk with a brutal seventh-round KO of The Nordic Nightmare – a short-notice replacement for Dillian Whyte.
Hearn was delighted to see the Watford warrior pick up his first stoppage win in nearly three years and firmly believes the golden boy of British boxing can do a number on the former WBC king now that he’s got his mojo back.
The Matchroom Boxing chief said: “I think that he can beat Deontay Wilder comfortably, but he could also get beat by Deontay Wilder.
“I don’t think necessarily, I mean, the good thing is he got – what was it – seven rounds in against a tall opponent who can punch a bit with the backhand?
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“I think it’s difficult to replicate certainly the power of Deontay Wilder.
“But I’ve always felt that AJ can outbox Deontay Wilder.”
Joshua, 33, showcased improved footwork against Helenius but his hesitancy to trade in the pocket was evident.
Hearn believes AJ has somewhat lost the killer instinct he had early in his career but reckons his more methodical approach will serve him well in his Saudi showdown with Wilder.
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He said: “I prefer him to box tentatively than his old style against Deontay Wilder.
“I know he can beat him with that style as well, but I would like to see him box Deontay Wilder, try and break him down.
“If he lands the right hand on Wilder like that, the fight’s over.
“And vice versa, if Wilder lands a right hand.
“That’s why it’s one of the best fights in boxing.”
Anthony Joshua is now riding a two-fight win streak after his KO of Robert HeleniusCredit: REUTERS
Joshua and Wilder were on a collision course in 2018 when they held all the heavyweight hardware.
But their eagerly-anticipated grudge match, which Joshua welcomed after putting Helenis, never came to fruition.
AJ said of fighting Wilder his post-fight interview: “Roll on. There’s no worry to me when it is.
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“I’m just happy we can get the fight going and I think people appreciate that.
“I’m doing my best to keep heavyweight boxing on the map.” More