CORNER KEY TO AJ FIGHT
Hearn expects Garcia to have a vocal presence
ANTHONY JOSHUA will be read the riot act in the corner during his clash with Oleksandr Usyk if he goes against his new trainer’s instructions.
The Watford warrior faces the WBA, IBF and WBO champion in a huge rematch for his career.
Joshua (32) got his tactics wrong when he faced the Ukrainian back in September at Tottenham FC Stadium.
But the blame was put on former coach Robert McCracken and he was dumped, with American Robert Garcia brought in as his replacement.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn predicts the corner won’t take any prisoners in Saudi Arabia this weekend when he faces the unbeaten Usyk again.
Hearn said: “I expect Robert Garcia to be fierce in the corner, which will be interesting.
Control
“If things aren’t going AJ’s to play, after two or three rounds, what does he do? He’s going to play a big role in the fight.”
Joshua’s rematch is heading to Jeddah after the Saudis paid a €74m fee for control of the fight.
The two boxers will split most of that pot after cuts have been taken out by those who facilitated the deal and their teams.
Sky Sports have paid the Saudis €30m to broadcast the bout in the UK, while Usyk has been gifted the broadcast to show on his YouTube channel in Ukraine.
The reigning champion has bulked up ahead of the rematch and Hearn reckons that is because he fears Joshua’s change in tactics.
He said: “Usyk looks f ****** massive, I am not sure that’s a positive.
“I think Usyk will try and walk AJ down in
this fight.
Pace
“I think he will come on the front foot and try to do what Fury did to Wilder in their second and third fights. He will try to do that.
“From the first bell I think he will try to force a fast pace, try to walk Anthony Joshua down that’s my prediction and it might be completely f ****** bonkers.
“He knows AJ will be a lot more physical in this fight, AJ is going to let his hands fly. You don’t want to be boxing on the back foot to that. “So they will try to take the middle of the ring and push AJ back. I think the fight will be over in six rounds.”