By Shaun Murphy-
Anthony Joshua has been urged to find an American coach to help him for the Oleksandr Usyk rematch by Wladimir Klitschko’s manager.
Since the former undisputed heavyweight champion lost to former cruiserweight champion, Oleg Usyk, there have been calls for the well built heavyweight to change his trainer, Robert Mcracken, who has guided his career since he turned professional.
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The former heavyweight champion has been travelling in the United States recently as he speaks to a number of American trainers following his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk back in September.
Bernd Bonte was part of Klitschko’s solid team, during the period when the Ukranaian dominated the heavyweight division for 11 years, before he was outpointed by Tyson Fury in 2015. Klitschko eventually retired after he lost for the second time in 11 years to Anthony Joshua.
Joshua was comprehensively outboxed and then nearly stopped by Usyk when they met in September.The Brit triggered a rematch clause in an attempt to get the belts back instantly, yet there are those who feel as though he needs to split with head trainer Rob McCracken and he even courted American trainers earlier this year.
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Bonte is trying to apply the same guidance he provided to Klitschko to link up with Emanuel Steward in Detroit after his loss to Corrie Sanders and the Ukrainian’s manager believes Joshua can enjoy similar levels of success himself.
He told Vegas Insider: “I recommended Emanuel Steward to Wladimir because Wladimir really didn’t feel very good after that loss to Corrie Sanders and he tested some different coaches as you’ll remember. And when I called Emanuel and set up a meeting between him and Wladimir the rest is history as we both know.
“With Emanuel’s support and his different tactics and his very close relationship, Wladimir came back stronger than he had ever been before and after that he was undefeated for almost ten years. AJ can do the same.
“Yes, absolutely there are similarities between Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua.
“The psychology is very decisive here for AJ in the rematch, I mean, I think he’s a guy like Wladimir. He has to feel good before a fight, he needs a psychological high, not question marks in his head, and then he can win the fight.
Bonte had Klitschko’s best interests at heart when he sent him to Americae former heavyweight champion has been travelling in the United States recently as he speaks to a number of American trainers following his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk back in September.
Former Wladimir trainer\; Boernd Boente Image: Boxing 247.com
“AJ’s tactics have been rightfully called into question but let’s not forget, especially looking at Wladimir’s losing performance against Corrie Sanders, that he’s not the first fighter that had a complete off night and he won’t be the last, but without question he can come back stronger.
“Anthony Joshua also has to feel good in the ring. I only know that psychology is the most decisive thing for AJ in the rematch and he has to solve that question, as well as the coaching question.”
Yet given his extensive amateur background, Bonte feels as though Joshua must revert to his box-fighting days to change the narrative of the fight and place himself in the pantheon of great heavyweight champions from previous years.
“I think AJ is a great guy for boxing – as well as his whole team – but the decision to change trainers is one that they have to make and the USA is the right place for that – speaking as someone who recommended his fighter to do the same years ago. I can only tell you that I rate Rob McCracken very highly, but if AJ wants to have an additional coach or some advisers from outside, I don’t know. It is a decision that he has to make.
“It’s extremely important that he has complete trust in his coach and that they as a close team, choose the right strategy, and end the fight on a psychological high, that’s the most important thing in this case.
“If he makes the right decisions in his camp, I am very, very positive that AJ can become the next member of that elite group of three-time heavyweight champions and be like: Ali, Lennox, Vitali, Evander. I think he needs to make the right changes and he’ll be back on track.
Usyk outclassed AJ in September, setting the londoner abck by two defeats, and harming his reputation in the process. Joshia was nearly stopped in the final round of that fight.
The Brit triggered a rematch clause in an attempt to get the belts back instantly, but there is a grwing feeling among boxing onservers that Joshua will need to change trainers to to increase his chances of victory enxt time round. Interest to coach him has been expressed by U.S coach, Freddie Roach and Mike Tyson.
Joshua knows if he loses twice to Usyk, he will go behind on the queue in the pecking order, and his repuation will suffer even more damage.
Tactics
“AJ’s tactics have been rightfully called into question but let’s not forget, especially looking at Wladimir’s losing performance against Corrie Sanders, that he’s not the first fighter that had a complete off night and he won’t be the last, but without question he can come back stronger.
“Anthony Joshua also has to feel good in the ring. I only know that psychology is the most decisive thing for AJ in the rematch and he has to solve that question, as well as the coaching question.”
The fight with Usyk was largely dictated on the Ukrainian’s terms, with Joshua mostly static and throwing pot-shots in the hope of catching the smaller, elusive southpaw.
Yet given his extensive amateur background, Bonte feels as though Joshua must revert to his box-fighting days to change the narrative of the fight and place himself in the pantheon of great heavyweight champions from previous years.
“I think AJ is a great guy for boxing – as well as his whole team – but the decision to change trainers is one that they have to make and the USA is the right place for that – speaking as someone who recommended his fighter to do the same years ago. I can only tell you that I rate Rob McCracken very highly, but if AJ wants to have an additional coach or some advisers from outside, I don’t know. It is a decision that he has to make.
“It’s extremely important that he has complete trust in his coach and that they as a close team, choose the right strategy, and end the fight on a psychological high, that’s the most important thing in this case.
“If he makes the right decisions in his camp, I am very, very positive that AJ can become the next member of that elite group of three-time heavyweight champions and be like: Ali, Lennox, Vitali, Evander. I think he needs to make the right changes and he’ll be back on track.
He told Vegas Insider: “I recommended Emanuel Steward to Wladimir because Wladimir really didn’t feel very good after that loss to Corrie Sanders and he tested some different coaches as you’ll remember. And when I called Emanuel and set up a meeting between him and Wladimir the rest is history as we both know.
“With Emanuel’s support and his different tactics and his very close relationship, Wladimir came back stronger than he had ever been before and after that he was undefeated for almost ten years. AJ can do the same.
“Yes, absolutely there are similarities between Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua.
“The psychology is very decisive here for AJ in the rematch, I mean, I think he’s a guy like Wladimir. He has to feel good before a fight, he needs a psychological high, not question marks in his head, and then he can win the fight.
Bonte had Klitschko’s best interests at heart when he sent him to America
“AJ’s tactics have been rightfully called into question but let’s not forget, especially looking at Wladimir’s losing performance against Corrie Sanders, that he’s not the first fighter that had a complete off night and he won’t be the last, but without question he can come back stronger.
“Anthony Joshua also has to feel good in the ring. I only know that psychology is the most decisive thing for AJ in the rematch and he has to solve that question, as well as the coaching question.”
The fight with Usyk was largely dictated on the Ukrainian’s terms, with Joshua mostly static and throwing pot-shots in the hope of catching the smaller, elusive southpaw.
Yet given his extensive amateur background, Bonte feels as though Joshua must revert to his box-fighting days to change the narrative of the fight and place himself in the pantheon of great heavyweight champions from previous years.
“I think AJ is a great guy for boxing – as well as his whole team – but the decision to change trainers is one that they have to make and the USA is the right place for that – speaking as someone who recommended his fighter to do the same years ago. I can only tell you that I rate Rob McCracken very highly, but if AJ wants to have an additional coach or some advisers from outside, I don’t know. It is a decision that he has to make.
“It’s extremely important that he has complete trust in his coach and that they as a close team, choose the right strategy, and end the fight on a psychological high, that’s the most important thing in this case.
“If he makes the right decisions in his camp, I am very, very positive that AJ can become the next member of that elite group of three-time heavyweight champions and be like: Ali, Lennox, Vitali, Evander. I think he needs to make the right changes and he’ll be back on track.
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