Robert Garcia has confirmed he has parted ways with Anthony Joshua, with the trainer telling the former champion he needs to get out of his ‘comfort zone’ if he is ever to get back to the top.
Joshua lost his IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles after being outclassed by Oleksandr Usyk in 2021. In the aftermath, the Briton cut ties with long-time trainer Rob McCracken and enlisted the services of Garcia ahead of his rematch with the Ukrainian.
While Joshua turned in a much-improved performance the second time around in August, Usyk still walked away the clear winner.
Joshua was scheduled to return to the ring before the end of the year but that was pushed with the Olympian currently back in the USA searching for a new trainer ahead of potential fights against Dillian Whyte and Deontay Wilder in 2023.
Garcia, who has trained Vergil Ortiz, Mikey Garcia, Marcos Maidana, Nonito Donaire and one of 2022’s breakout stars Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, has now confirmed an amicable split with ‘AJ’, adding scheduling issues going forward would also have been an issue.
‘Anthony called me and told me what he was doing and I respect it,’ Garcia told ES NEWS. ‘I understand the way he’s seeing things and honestly I wish him the best.
‘Even if it was me again, from what I understand he’s trying to fight some time in spring … Having to go to camp in England would be very difficult for me as I know José [Ramirez] is going to be fighting around that time … It’s a very f*****g difficult fight, I’ve got to train my ass off to get him ready for that fight.’
Joshua was based in Sheffield for most of his professional career under McCracken, moving his camp to Loughborough ahead of his rematch with Usyk earlier this year.
In some parting advice, Garcia has urged his former fighter to leave behind his ‘comfort zone’ in the UK, insisting there can be no excuses for not wanting to get up in the morning and spar.
‘My personal advice and I told him and all of his team right before I left, the next day … It doesn’t matter who it is, it doesn’t matter if it’s me again, he needs to change his camps around, he needs to go to the United States, he needs to train in the gym … with young guys who are looking up to you.
‘And you cannot say today I don’t want to spar because I’m tired or I didn’t sleep enough last night so I don’t want to train today.’
During his most recent visit to the US, Joshua shared footage of himself working inside Derrick James’ gym, with the American the trainer of unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr and undisputed welterweight king Jermell Charlo.
Joshua has also been pictured working in Los Angeles with Virgil Hunter, who currently trains British light-heavyweight star Joshua Buatsi.
Whatever decision Joshua makes, Garcia insists the heavyweight must hand total control over to his new trainer.
‘It’s not about Derrick James doing a better job, Virgil Hunter doing a better job, me doing better than his previous trainer – no. It’s about him getting out of his comfort zone and not being the boss, and doing what he’s told to do in a place where he’s not comfortable.
‘He’s very talented, his power is insane, and he needs to believe in himself.’
MORE : ‘It will definitely happen’ – Anthony Joshua confident of 2023 showdown with Deontay Wilder
MORE : Tyson Fury reveals he needs surgery that could delay Oleksandr Usyk fight and takes another swipe at Anthony Joshua
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