Via Jack Tiernan: Coach Robert Garcia said he and Angel Fernandez are seeing Anthony Joshua’s fierceness improve ahead of his August 20 rematch with unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) took the teachings from Robert and wanted “pain” someone with the way his mind has been altered.
Garcia has been working steadily with Joshua since last December and he has plenty of time to make the necessary changes to his game to avenge his loss from last September. Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs).
Robert doesn’t need to significantly improve Joshua to win as he was close to winning last time against Usyk’s game.
Just as important as making Joshua an aggressive fighter is making sure his stamina is up to par so he fights hard for 12 rounds without dying.
AJ is more energetic
“We have seen Anthony Joshua improve a lot week by week and there are five more weeks of hard training. He’s going to get better and better, so by the time the fight goes on, he’ll be 100% ready,” coach Robert Garcia told Secondsout.
“He has to be on the same team that wants him to win, wants him to perform and wants him to be a little tougher. I think that’s what I bring.
“Me & Angel Fernandez are pushing him to be aggressive, to be the bad guy in the ring, to hurt anyone in front of him. He’s been doing it lately, and I’m happy and pleased with the way things are going.
“He has insane strength, probably more than anyone on the team. So use it, why not? Look for that punch of power; Robert said.
Joshua wants to hurt someone
“I lived here [the UK] it’s been two months, and we’re still six weeks away, but I’ve been back since December,” said Garcia. “We’ve been working on similar things since last December, so I think that’s more than enough time.
“Angel Fernandez also did very well. We always talk about what he’s doing and he’s doing exactly what he’s planning. So I think we’ll be more than ready.
“What do you know? I think he didn’t think and prepare to win Robert said when asked why Joshua lost his first fight to Usyk last September.
“According to what he told me, he was only thinking about going through 12 rounds. He never thought, ‘I have to win the war. I just need to go 12 laps. ‘ So that makes a big difference.
“The current, he is thinking of winning and thinking of hurting someone. That is the most important thing. He has to be confident with his team.
AJ is preparing to win against KO
“It’s not important. Matchroom & DAZN is our home,” Robert said when asked about his thoughts on the broadcast rights to Sky Sports showing a rematch of Joshua vs. Usyk II in England.
“It’s not important. Two boys will be in the ring, and we are preparing Anthony mentally that he has to come out and win by knockout. It doesn’t matter which TV station or network shows the battle. We will go into it with the same mentality.
“After we won, we had to go celebrate. I have to go back to work because at the end of the year I have a lot of wars in September and October, so I have to do a lot of work.
“It’s possible to take a few days off, but I have to do a lot of work because I have a lot of boxers,” said Robert.
