Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua press conference LIVE: Updates as heavyweights come face-to-face

Anthony Joshua claims new trainer Robert Garcia has taught him to ‘take his opponent’s spirit away’ ahead of crucial rematch with Oleksandr Usyk… but admits the Ukrainian southpaw is a ‘nightmare’ to fight

  • AJ heaped praise on his new coach Robert Garcia during his press conference
  • Anthony Joshua says Garcia taught him how to ‘take his opponent’s spirit away
  • Joshua also said that there is ‘no love lost’ between him and Robert McCracken
  • The British star went on to admit fighting a southpaw like Usyk is a ‘nightmare’ 

Anthony Joshua heaped praise on his new trainer Robert Garcia ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, claiming the American coach has taught him how to ‘take his opponent’s spirit away’. 

Joshua is due to face Usyk for a second time this year after losing his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts on an unanimous points decision at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in September last year. 

The British heavyweight boxer says branching out with Garcia has helped him prepare well for the fight on August 20 but admits fighting a southpaw like Usyk is a ‘nightmare’.

Anthony Joshua heaped praise on his new trainer Robert Garcia – claiming the American coach taught him how to ‘take his opponent’s spirit away’ during fights 

When asked whether fans would see ‘old AJ’ during the highly anticipated showdown in Saudi Arabi, Joshua said: ‘In terms of ‘old AJ’… same old G, just doing what I’m doing – grafting away. 

‘Listen, it’s a rough and tough sport, especially fighting these lefties; they’re a nightmare. But it is what it is, isn’t it? You’ve gotta dig deep, tuck up, and not make the same mistake twice.’ 

Joshua also said there is no ‘love lost’ between himself and his former coach Robert McCracken after parting ways ahead of his second fight with Usyk.

Joshua (right) also said there is no 'love lost' between himself and his former coach Robert McCracken after parting ways ahead of his second fight with Oleksandr Usyk (left)

Joshua (right) also said there is no ‘love lost’ between himself and his former coach Robert McCracken after parting ways ahead of his second fight with Oleksandr Usyk (left) 

Joshua lost his belts on an unanimous points decision in September last year while under the tutelage of his former long-term coach. 

 AJ immediately exercised his rematch clause in his contract and embarked on a Stateside tour to find himself a new coaching team following his humbling defeat. 

He sounded out Virgil Hunter, Ronnie Shields and Eddy Reynoso but decided to partner with Garcia – who is a highly-decorated Mexican-American coach with a catalogue of world champions on his CV.

Speaking about the decision, AJ thanked McCracken for his services and said he ‘respects’ his former coach but insisted he needed ‘something different’ ahead of his rematch. 

AJ decided to partner with Robert Garcia (right) - who is a highly-decorated Mexican-American coach with a catalogue of world champions on his CV

AJ decided to partner with Robert Garcia (right) – who is a highly-decorated Mexican-American coach with a catalogue of world champions on his CV

Chatting at his press conference on Wednesday, Joshua said: ‘Robert Garcia’s a good man. Straight after the [first fight], I spent time in America. It’s something I should have done early in my career. So, young fighters coming up: Go to the States, get out there, travel.

‘Branching out has been good with Robert Garcia. Shoutout to [former coach] Rob McCracken and all the team up there as well, I respect him and everything that we’ve achieved, so there’s no love lost.

‘But I need to make some sort of important decisions for myself as well. Yeah, it’s new, it’s something different, but the objective is the same: to win a fight, to look at your opponent and take something away from them, a bit of their spirit when you’re in the ring.’

Relive the live action through Sportsmail’s blog – which brought readers the latest updates from Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua‘s London press conference.