AJ’S IN THE FIGHT FRAME OF MIND
McCracken: He won’t make same mistakes as Froch did against Groves
ANTHONY JOSHUA’S trainer Rob McCracken has seen it before.
His fighter unifies two world titles in a huge event in London then nearly comes a cropper because he cannot get motivated for a relatively lowkey mandatory defence.
But whereas Carl Froch’s complacency almost cost him against George Groves (below, left) nearly four years ago, McCracken says Joshua will be totally switched on against Carlos Takam on Saturday.
“It’s very different,” said McCracken, the tactical brains in Team Joshua.
“I remember the conversation with Carl. It was at the latter end of his career. He had just beaten Mikkel Kessler, which he had an ambition to do, and George Groves became his mandatory, which he wasn’t overly happy about.
“He was stubborn in camp and should have prepared better because Groves is a tough fighter – as he has gone on to prove.
“There’s none of that with AJ because he has been a pro barely four years. Carl had been over a decade as a pro when he was grumbling about challenges from the UK for his world title.
“He enjoys it, Anthony, he’s not daft. He’s looked at Takam and seen he’s big, dangerous and powerful. It’s a tough sport and you can’t underestimate anybody.” McCracken claims Joshua remains hungry despite unifying the WBA Super and IBF heavyweight titles against Wladimir Klitschko because he wants so much more.
Joshua, 28, celebrated four years as a pro this month and aims to become the heavyweight division’s first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis by the end of next year.
“He’s still early in the sport,” said McCracken. “He had been a professional three-and-a-half years when he beat Klitschko.
“He’s still relatively inexperienced at the highest level. He looks forward to learning and defending his titles against the best challengers. That’s what really excites him.”
Joshua is expected to blow away Frenchman Takam inside a few rounds at Cardiff ’s Principality Stadium.
The durable Takam, 36, a late replacement for the injured Kubrat Pulev, has lost three of his 39 fights, including against Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin.
McCracken is mindful both those defeats were in his opponent’s backyard and insists neither he nor Joshua expect a comfortable win.
“He’s only been stopped once and that was by Povetkin in the 10th round,” he said.
“Takam is confident he can beat anybody. Otherwise he wouldn’t have gone to Russia or New Zealand to face Povetkin and Parker.”