Anthony Joshua’s former trainer Robert Garcia is certain that AJ will have two or three easy fights next. Promoter Eddie Hearn has talked up the possibility of Joshua facing Deontay Wilder or Dillian Whyte, but Garcia expects the Watford powerhouse to have a few tune-up fights in the interim.
Joshua has parted ways with Garcia after only four months of working together. The pair linked up ahead of the two-time heavyweight champion’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in August following the sacking of long-time mentor Rob McCracken.
Under Garcia, Joshua showed marked improvements, despite not winning the fight – and many were sure their relationship would continue. However, Joshua has recently begun touring gyms in America in search of a new lead.
So far, he has visited esteemed coaches Virgil Hunter and Derrick James with more expected over the coming weeks. Joshua embarked on a similar journey when selecting Garcia. After visiting the likes of Hunter, Eddy Reynoso, Ronnie Shields, and Garcia, he opted to recruit the latter.
Garcia feels he did all that he could with Joshua given the short period of time they spent together but wants to see AJ pushed out of his comfort zone more going forward.
He added: “It’s not about Virgil Hunter doing a better job, Derrick James doing a better job or me doing a better job than his previous trainer. It’s about him getting out of his comfort zone and not being the boss and doing what he’s told to do in a place where he’s not comfortable.”
Joshua is scheduled to return to action in March of next year at the O2 Arena against a currently undisclosed opponent. Whyte is understood to be the frontrunner with Otto Wallin, Zhang Zhilei, Filip Hrgovic and Demsey McKean all in the mix.