Robert Garcia is aware that people will inevitably compare him to whoever becomes the next trainer of Anthony Joshua.
The veteran trainer from Southern California joined the former heavyweight champion’s team earlier this year ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in August. Garcia worked in tandem with Joshua’s longtime assistant trainer, Angel Fernandez, to help the British star land back on his feet. In the end, Usyk wound up winning again on points to retain his WBO, WBA, and IBF titles. Many observers felt that Joshua still showed improvement.
Now Joshua is back to exploring the possibility of bringing a new trainer into his camp. The Londoner was recently spotted in the United States working with the likes of Virgil Hunter in San Francisco and Derrick James in Dallas.
Garcia could still get the nod to return to Joshua’s camp, but the trainer noted that he has considerable commitments to his other fighters, which includes brothers and fellow junior bantamweight titlists Joshua Franco and Bam Rodriguez and former welterweight titlist Jose Ramirez.
Garcia, however, wants observers to refrain from giving the new trainer undue credit when Joshua returns in the spring, as Joshua, Garcia said, is likely to face a fighter of far less caliber than Usyk. That makes any comparison between the work that Garcia did and what the new trainer will do unequal. Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has mentioned Dillian Whyte as a possible frontrunner.
“It doesn’t matter who it is, when he comes back, I know they’re going to pick him two or three easy fights so he can look good,” Garcia told ESNews. “That’s going to make any trainer [look good]. Whether it’s Virgil Hunter or if it’s Angel Fernandez — he can just stay with Angel — or he can pick Derrick James. The opponent he’s going to fight he’s going to knock out and that’s going to make him look good and it’s going make whoever training him look good.
“But it’s a big difference. I went in there against Usyk and we still did better than anybody expected. So that’s a big difference. They’re not going to go in there against Usyk. They’re going to go in there against easier opponents that he’s going to go out and destroy, like, ‘Oh sh!t! What a difference. He looks so much better.’ Yeah, but look at the quality of the opponent too. That’s the big difference.”
Garcia found himself in hot water after the Usyk fight because comments he made about Joshua to an outlet were perceived as overly critical. Nevertheless, Garcia indicated that many members on Joshua’s team want him to return as lead trainer.
“The four months I was with him I think I was able to get along very well and I’m pretty sure everybody on that team would prefer coming to us but, in the end, it’s going to be Anthony’s decision,” Garcia said.