Anthony Joshua is on the hunt for a new trainer and he may have found his man in the form of Derrick James.
After losing for the first time against Oleksandr Usyk last year, Joshua split with his long-time trainer, Robert McCracken, who he had worked with since his time as an amateur on Team GB.
Joshua then travelled around America looking for a new trainer, as he met with Ronnie Shields, Virgil Hunter and Eddy Reynoso, but landed on Robert Garcia, as well as promoting his existing trainer, Angel Fernandez.
Both men were in AJ’s corner for his rematch with Usyk, but once again the Brit was out-boxed and beaten by his Ukrainian rival.
Since then, Joshua has said that he wants to be more of a ‘free spirit’ in terms of his training set up, as he told Sporting News when asked about the situation: “So in terms of Robert Garcia, thank you for asking. I respect him a lot. He’s a really good man, really good trainer.
“Will I work with him again? Yeah I would, but what I’ve said to Robert and the team as well is that I want to be a free spirit.
“You know, I locked myself down for 11 years with one coach, and now I just feel like I just want to learn as much as possible.
“Honestly, if you know me closely, which a lot of the viewers probably don’t, what it is, is, it’s not the trainer it’s about the fighter, what he has up here [in his head].
“So I feel I’m in a position where I’m able to work with anyone. So, yeah, who knows what will happen next year.”
As Joshua looks to return to the ring in 2023, it seems he is back out in the USA looking to bolster his team and perhaps even add some new faces to his corner.
He has once again been at Virgil Hunter’s gym, but on Monday, Joshua shared a video of himself inside Derrick James’ gym.
James is the trainer of unified welterweight champion, Errol Spence Jr and undisputed super welterweight title holder, Jermell Charlo, and he is one of the favourites to be named 2022 trainer of the year.
Such is James’ reputation, if he were to link up with Joshua that could be exactly what the Brit needs to help revive his career and bounce back from three losses in his last five fights.
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News Summary:
- Anthony Joshua training at Derrick James’ gym, who coaches Errol Spence Jr and Jermell Charlo, and may be looking at him as possible new trainer
- Check all news and articles from the latest Boxing updates.