Under-fire trainer Rob ‘more than a coach’, insists AJ
ANTHONY JOSHUA has launched an impassioned defence of his trainer Rob McCracken following the criticism that arrived in the wake his defeat by Andy Ruiz in June.
Joshua insisted he never considered replacing McCracken, who will once again be in his corner for the 30-year-old’s heavyweight worldtitle rematch with Ruiz in Saudi Arabia on December 7.
McCracken’s tactics were slated by former world champion Lennox Lewis among others, while the coach’s admission he allowed Joshua to fight on despite fearing he was concussed also drew criticism.
But Joshua, who has had McCracken by his side since he first joined the GB Boxing set-up in Sheffield in 2010, insisted his influence is strong and important enough to prosper even in the wake of such a stunning setback.
Joshua said: ‘Rob is more than a trainer. He helped me when I got kicked off the GB squad and they didn’t want me back on, but Rob spoke up for me. It’s good to have someone around you who can guide you through the snakes and sharks of the industry. Rob has been through it all himself and there are years of understanding between us.
‘Rob is more than just a pad man. There are a million pad men out there but you have to be selective about who can guide you. We have added things for sure, but we are never going to change.’
Joshua is certainly not underestimating Ruiz this time after the Mexican replaced Jarrell Miller at short notice in New York City and stunned the world by taking the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts.
‘I’ve learned a lot from the defeat,’ added Joshua. ‘I’ve learned to take a loss like a man and to be thankful I have a second opportunity.
‘I don’t like to talk about it too much because the thing that goes on the record is the loss, not the description. It definitely had an effect on me but it takes more than that to knock a man like me back.’