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Anthony Joshua’s Former Trainer Warns People Not To Underestimate Him In Wilder Fight

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anthony joshua

Anthony Joshua’s former trainer, Robert Garcia, believes some in the sport may be overlooking his power in a potential match-up with Deontay Wilder.

Garcia helmed Joshua’s corner for just one fight – a rematch loss to Oleksandr Usyk – and the pair split not long after.

Now with a win under his belt against Jermaine Franklin and a rematch with Dillian Whyte coming up, Joshua is seemingly one fight away from making the heavyweight banger against Wilder that has been atop fans’ lists for some time.

anthony joshua

As with every Wilder fight, the narrative has focused on his incredible punch power. He has 42 knockouts from 43 wins, and the ultimate highlight reel when it comes to stoppages.

Speaking to Boxing Social, Garcia said that people may be overlooking his former charge’s own capability to end contests early, and believes the Brit is just as likely to get a knockout as the American is

“It’s a huge fight … I never felt Wilder’s power, but I’m pretty sure he hits hard, but so does Anthony. People might think that Wilder has insane power where he’s gonna be much stronger or hits harder than Anthony. I don’t know.

I’ve never felt Wilder’s power but I have felt Anthony. Anthony has great power. Unbelievable power. I think it’s one of those fights where whoever lands first, whoever wants it more, is gonna be the winner.

It’s a fight that I would love to see even though I’m not working with Anthony.”

Garcia praised ‘Anthony Joshua’s decision to link up with Texan trainer, Derrick James, believing him to be the coach of the moment and a man well-prepared to get the best out of the former unified champion.

First up, Joshua faces Whyte in a domestic grudge match with plenty of previous bad blood. Should he come through unscathed, it’s understood that the Wilder fight is all but signed.

 

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Anthony Joshua channelling Mike Tyson against Dillian Whyte can strike fear into Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder

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anthony joshua

Anthony Joshua’s make-or-break rematch with Dillian Whyte could be his last stand as an elite heavyweight – or a chance to send a warning shot to Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.

If AJ loses to a fighter he spectacularly knocked out in 2015 then nobody could deny his decline. Two defeats by Oleksandr Usyk, followed by a dominant but dull points win over Jermaine Franklin, then a loss to Whyte would leave Joshua’s rebuild in the rubble.

anthony joshua

But, as the multiple ‘second chances’ that Mike Tyson, Frank Bruno or Wladimir Klitschko got throughout their career showed: a top heavyweight is only one eye-catching victory away from making themselves relevant again.

If Joshua can double down on his victory against Whyte – still a top-10 contender, even if likely past his peak at 35 – and leave his old rival sprawled on the canvas, then he buries the memory of his limp display against Franklin.

Here’s what AJ needs to do to make a statement to fight fans.

KO Whyte faster than Fury

Joshua stopped Whyte in seven rounds in 2015, Fury stopped Dillian in six rounds last year, AJ could continue the pattern by halting ‘The Bodysnatcher’ in a quicker time than ‘The Gypsy King.

This is Joshua’s third career rematch and, to his credit, he’s improved each time previously. An out-of-shape Andy Ruiz was shut out over 12 rounds in 2019. And while Usyk beat AJ twice, the Ukrainian had to dig deeper to win a rematch where AJ showed more aggression in the middle rounds.

Whyte is in some ways a ‘no win’ fight for AJ. Triumph and he’s treading over old ground; lose or struggle to victory and he’s clearly slipped. Beating the time Fury finished off Whyte with a titanic uppercut – 2:59 of the sixth round – and AJ earns some bragging rights. But how does he do that?

 

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