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Anthony Joshua compares former manager Rob McCracken to Sir Alex Ferguson, but admits that bringing in additional coaches caused a ‘massive collapse’ at his training ground… while claiming some of successor Robert Garcia’s advice ‘baffled’ him.
- Anthony Joshua has revealed why he parted ways with former coach Rob McCracken
- Joshua and McCracken parted ways after a first loss to Oleksandr Usyk
- The former heavyweight titleholder compared his previous trainer to Sir Alex Ferguson
Anthony Joshua has explained that the decision to leave former trainer Rob McCracken was due to a “massive rupture” in their boxer-trainer relationship following a first-time loss to Oleksandr Usyk.
The former world heavyweight champion parted ways with McCracken after losing their belts to the Ukrainian and has now explained how the failure to adopt a new change in their relationship caused friction.
Joshua has returned to the microphone ahead of his upcoming comeback fight with American Jermaine Franklin and has explained how he wanted his former trainer to be like Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ferguson enjoyed a long-term dominance at the top of the Premier League with Manchester United and was known for being able to develop squad after squad of glorious superstars.
However, Joshua explained that things with McCracken did not go as smoothly as he had hoped, telling talkSPORT: “When I was with Rob McCracken, I felt we needed to develop. I looked at him as if Rob McCracken was Sir Alex Ferguson, the teacher.
Anthony Joshua (left) explained the reasons why his relationship with Rob McCracken ended after a first loss to Oleksandr Usyk (right)
Joshua (right) was associated with McCracken for most of his professional career.
Joshua compared his relationship with his former coach to the development of Sir Alex Ferguson (left)
So, I brought, for example, a free kick coach and a penalty kick coach below. They’re going to work together and form a little strategy.
‘I wanted to create a structure. That didn’t work out, mass collapse on training ground.
‘So, I started working with Ángel Fernández. A very good trainer, but he was the first to admit: ‘I want to help you, but I don’t have enough experience.’
So, I thought, the best thing you can do to make this work with someone more experienced is to choose who you think is the right suit for you.
‘He said, ‘Robert Garcia.’ I said, ‘You know what, I rate it. I was there, I did it. And the target was Oleksandr Usyk, that was our target. We fell short. I put a lot into it and that led us into the New Year.’
Joshua’s decision to ditch his long-term trainer didn’t work out, as he lost his rematch to Usyk and found his career in the heavyweight desert, not a place for the 33-year-old who only dreamed of a career last year. unification fight. he is too familiar.
He succeeded McCracken with Robert Garcia, but that relationship has also come to an end, with Joshua now partnering with Derrick James and living in Texas as he tries to work his way back to the top of the division.
Joshua, while grateful to Garcia for his help, also added that the trainer, who has turned numerous fighters into world champions, “baffled” him with some of his instructions.
The Englishman (centre left) also admitted that some of Robert Garcia’s had even ‘baffled’ him.
Joshua (right) teamed up with Derrick James (left) before his return fight with Jermaine Franklin
Garcia said many things that also puzzled me. But I am not a small child, I can take it but at the same time. I can’t talk about you, and you don’t have your back,” he said.
‘So the second time I said, ‘I’m going to make the decision this time. I’m going to do it myself