What’s Next for Anthony Joshua?

Searching for the Right Team

Following the first Usyk defeat in September 2021, Joshua left his longtime trainer Rob McCraken and went to work with esteemed coach Robert Garcia. McCraken trained Joshua for the 2012 Olympics and lead him to his first world title in 2016, when AJ defeated Martin for the IBF belt. Defeat against Usyk wasn’t their first, in 2019 Joshua lost to Andy Ruiz, but was able to pick himself up and with a new strategy to defeat an overweight Ruiz in a rematch.

Joshua visited different gyms and met with famous coaches like Virgil Ortiz, Eddy Reynoso and Ronnie Shields, but it was Garcia that impressed him the most. “Texas, Fresno, LA, I saw a lot of coaches everywhere before choosing my new trainer – and there were coaches that I didn’t get to see – but he was the standout. Robert Garcia is a bad boy coach.” said Joshua.

Robert Garcia is one of the best in the business right now. He trained 14 world champions, and his impressive resume includes fighters like Mikey Garcia, Nonito Donaire, Marcos Maidana, Kelly Pavlic and many others. Despite his vast experience, the American trainer couldn’t guide Joshua to victory in Saudi Arabia this August, though it was one of Joshua’s best performances.

Right now, the former champion is touring USA again, trying to find man to be in his corner. Garcia completely understands why AJ left his gym: “Anthony called me and told me what he was doing. I understand you know, the way he is seeing things and honesty, I wish him the best”.

Joshua went to San Francisco late November where he met with great defensive trainer Virgil Hunter, a man behind Andre Ward’s undefeated streak at two weight divisions and the current trainer of AJ’s stablemate Joshua Buatsi. After working with Hunter Joshua, he went to Dallas to see Derrick James, the trainer of unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. and undisputed light middleweight champion Jermell Charlo.

Is Joshua Ready to Return?

The biggest concern for Joshua’s fans should be his now famous meltdown, minutes after judges declared Usyk as the winner of their second clash. It was obvious this defeat took a lot more from AJ than the first one, usually calm and collected, Joshua went on a rant that was hard to watch. Four months since then we know very little about what’s Joshua’s next step is.

Former cruiserweight champion and Sky sport analyst Johnny Nelson stated in his latest interview that Joshua should take some time off boxing, “I think he should sit back, reset, spend time at many, many gyms, training, submerse himself in it, feel comfortable with it and say, ’Now I’ve reset, now I can do this.’ Look at what he’s achieved. He started boxing when he was 18 years old. He’s achieved ridiculously good things, but he’s still broken. He’s still not over the two losses from Usyk”.

Joshua showed us that he is able to pick himself up when he defeated Ruiz two years ago. On the other side, Usyk beat Joshua in a rematch and did it in a fashion that doesn’t leave much to argue about. Only time will show if he can rebuild himself and overcome these losses.

Next Opponent?

We could expect one or two tune up fights for Joshua in 2023. Just days ago, Joshua told the media he has his eyes on Dillian Whyte, and most of the boxing world didn’t agree with him. Fans want to see Joshua against Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder, but realistically somebody like Whyte would be a good match up for AJ right now. Besides “The Bodysnatcher,” guys like Dereck Chisora, Nathan Gorman or Otto Walin should be the right opponents for Joshua. Of course, if he really wants to go back to business Fury, Wilder or Joe Joyce are the fights to be made.

Featured Imaged Credit: Getty Images