01-11-2023, 08:38 PM
Hearn Says Joshua Return ‘Targeted’ for April 1 in London, Will Train in US
BY SEAN NAM
Published Tue Jan 10, 2023, 02:19 PM EST
Anthony Joshua appears to be on the brink of making the biggest training change of his career ahead of his return to the ring.
The former heavyweight champion from London is expected to start his training camp for his next fight in the United States, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.
Joshua was recently seen visiting several notable trainers in the US, including Virgil Hunter and Derrick James, the trainer of undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo and unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. He also met with Roy Jones Jr. in the UK.
Joshua’s training team has been in flux ever since he dropped a title-losing decision to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk, the WBA, WBAO, and IBF heavyweight titlist, in their first fight in September 2021. After that fight, Joshua canned his longtime trainer Rob McCracken for veteran American coach Robert Garcia. Now, in the wake of his second consecutive loss to Usyk, Joshua is poised to enlist a new voice in his corner.
Hearn said that Joshua will make the announcement of his new trainer soon.
“He is gonna train in America, and he’ll start that camp in the next week,” Hearn said on The DAZN Boxing Show on Monday. “He’ll be flying out. You guys will get the news soon. ... Like I said, AJ’s his own man, and something like that (announcing his new trainer) is for him to confirm once he’s happy to confirm it.
Hearn said the working date for his star charge’s next fight is April in London. An opponent has not been announced but some reports have suggested that Australian heavyweight Demsey McKean will get the nod.
“April 1 is the targeted date in London,” Hearn said. “Really, I have a call (today) to go through the final list of opponents, the final, you know, bits and pieces around the date. We’re almost ready, really. He’s excited.”
While Hearn refrained from revealing Joshua’s trainer, he did indicate he was “happy” with the choice.
“Yes, I’m happy with the trainer,” Hearn said. “I’m happy with anybody that makes AJ feel comfortable, makes him feel motivated, makes him feel excited, and I think this is gonna be a nice break.”
Hearn also thinks the change in locale will be a big boon to Joshua’s preparation.
“The problem is, being in the UK, he can’t breathe, you know?” Hearn said. “When he goes to America, people still know who he is, but it’s just a different world. Can you imagine that Anthony Joshua, where he’s gonna be training, can rent a house or stay in a hotel, and can go for a walk and go and sit in a coffee shop and have a bit of breakfast and a bit of coffee with some friends, and, yeah, someone might come over and go, ‘AJ, man, how you doin’?’ But literally, that is an impossibility (in the UK). He can go to the mall and have a nice stroll around and pop into Foot Locker … and just be normal. Like, live a normal life that people should be allowed to do. It’s just a pressure cooker. It’s just a pressure cooker.
“Because he’s that guy, because he’s that ambassador, because he’s that role model, he’ll never turn down a photo, he’ll never turn down a conversation. So, it’s like, you don’t realize how much that’s going to drain you when you’re doing two or three sessions a day. I think it’s gonna be really good for him. I really feel like you’re gonna see a reinvigorated Anthony Joshua in April and I can’t wait to see him back.”
Hearn previously said he wants Joshua to fight three times in 2023: A soft touch in April, followed by a possible rematch with Dillian Whyte in the summer, and then a "mega" fight with Deontay Wilder to end the year.
BY SEAN NAM
Published Tue Jan 10, 2023, 02:19 PM EST
Anthony Joshua appears to be on the brink of making the biggest training change of his career ahead of his return to the ring.
The former heavyweight champion from London is expected to start his training camp for his next fight in the United States, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.
Joshua was recently seen visiting several notable trainers in the US, including Virgil Hunter and Derrick James, the trainer of undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo and unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. He also met with Roy Jones Jr. in the UK.
Joshua’s training team has been in flux ever since he dropped a title-losing decision to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk, the WBA, WBAO, and IBF heavyweight titlist, in their first fight in September 2021. After that fight, Joshua canned his longtime trainer Rob McCracken for veteran American coach Robert Garcia. Now, in the wake of his second consecutive loss to Usyk, Joshua is poised to enlist a new voice in his corner.
Hearn said that Joshua will make the announcement of his new trainer soon.
“He is gonna train in America, and he’ll start that camp in the next week,” Hearn said on The DAZN Boxing Show on Monday. “He’ll be flying out. You guys will get the news soon. ... Like I said, AJ’s his own man, and something like that (announcing his new trainer) is for him to confirm once he’s happy to confirm it.
Hearn said the working date for his star charge’s next fight is April in London. An opponent has not been announced but some reports have suggested that Australian heavyweight Demsey McKean will get the nod.
“April 1 is the targeted date in London,” Hearn said. “Really, I have a call (today) to go through the final list of opponents, the final, you know, bits and pieces around the date. We’re almost ready, really. He’s excited.”
While Hearn refrained from revealing Joshua’s trainer, he did indicate he was “happy” with the choice.
“Yes, I’m happy with the trainer,” Hearn said. “I’m happy with anybody that makes AJ feel comfortable, makes him feel motivated, makes him feel excited, and I think this is gonna be a nice break.”
Hearn also thinks the change in locale will be a big boon to Joshua’s preparation.
“The problem is, being in the UK, he can’t breathe, you know?” Hearn said. “When he goes to America, people still know who he is, but it’s just a different world. Can you imagine that Anthony Joshua, where he’s gonna be training, can rent a house or stay in a hotel, and can go for a walk and go and sit in a coffee shop and have a bit of breakfast and a bit of coffee with some friends, and, yeah, someone might come over and go, ‘AJ, man, how you doin’?’ But literally, that is an impossibility (in the UK). He can go to the mall and have a nice stroll around and pop into Foot Locker … and just be normal. Like, live a normal life that people should be allowed to do. It’s just a pressure cooker. It’s just a pressure cooker.
“Because he’s that guy, because he’s that ambassador, because he’s that role model, he’ll never turn down a photo, he’ll never turn down a conversation. So, it’s like, you don’t realize how much that’s going to drain you when you’re doing two or three sessions a day. I think it’s gonna be really good for him. I really feel like you’re gonna see a reinvigorated Anthony Joshua in April and I can’t wait to see him back.”
Hearn previously said he wants Joshua to fight three times in 2023: A soft touch in April, followed by a possible rematch with Dillian Whyte in the summer, and then a "mega" fight with Deontay Wilder to end the year.