Robert Garcia is conscious that folks will inevitably examine him to whoever turns into the subsequent coach of Anthony Joshua.
The veteran coach from Southern California joined the previous heavyweight champion’s staff earlier this 12 months forward of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in August. Garcia labored in tandem with Joshua’s longtime assistant coach, Angel Fernandez, to assist the British star land again on his ft. In the long run, Usyk wound up profitable once more on factors to retain his WBO, WBA, and IBF titles. Many observers felt that Joshua nonetheless confirmed enchancment.
Now Joshua is again to exploring the opportunity of bringing a brand new coach into his camp. The Londoner was just lately noticed in the US working with the likes of Virgil Hunter in San Francisco and Derrick James in Dallas.
Garcia might nonetheless get the nod to return to Joshua’s camp, however the coach famous that he has appreciable commitments to his different fighters, which incorporates brothers and fellow junior bantamweight titlists Joshua Franco and Bam Rodriguez and former welterweight titlist Jose Ramirez.
Garcia, nevertheless, needs observers to chorus from giving the brand new coach undue credit score when Joshua returns within the spring, as Joshua, Garcia stated, is more likely to face a fighter of far much less caliber than Usyk. That makes any comparability between the work that Garcia did and what the brand new coach will do unequal. Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has talked about Dillian Whyte as a doable frontrunner.
“It doesn’t matter who it’s, when he comes again, I do know they’re going to select him two or three straightforward fights so he can look good,” Garcia instructed ESNews. “That’s going to make any coach [look good]. Whether or not it’s Virgil Hunter or if it’s Angel Fernandez — he can simply stick with Angel — or he can decide Derrick James. The opponent he’s going to battle he’s going to knock out and that’s going to make him look good and it’s going make whoever coaching him look good.
“But it surely’s an enormous distinction. I went in there in opposition to Usyk and we nonetheless did higher than anyone anticipated. In order that’s an enormous distinction. They’re not going to go in there in opposition to Usyk. They’re going to go in there in opposition to simpler opponents that he’ll exit and destroy, like, ‘Oh sh!t! What a distinction. He appears so significantly better.’ Yeah, however take a look at the standard of the opponent too. That’s the massive distinction.”
Garcia discovered himself in scorching water after the Usyk battle as a result of feedback he made about Joshua to an outlet have been perceived as overly crucial. Nonetheless, Garcia indicated that many members on Joshua’s staff need him to return as lead coach.
“The 4 months I used to be with him I believe I used to be capable of get alongside very effectively and I’m fairly positive all people on that staff would favor coming to us however, in the long run, it’s going to be Anthony’s choice,” Garcia stated.