Anthony Joshua should change coach, Andy Lee believes
Anthony Joshua should train with Adam Booth to beat Oleksandr Usyk in his 2022 rematch, according to Andy Lee.
Joshua lost the IBF. The WBA and WBO won titles for the 34-year-old Ukrainian at the end of September and immediately exercised his rematch clause. It will take place at the beginning of next year.
The 32-year-old Briton was criticized for not using his size and strength because his smaller rival was close to stopping him in the later rounds. In fact, the nature of the victory was such that few now have Joshua’s favorite for revenge.
Joshua appears to have noted the loss, prompting him to tour various gyms in Texas and California, prompting speculation that he will release coach Rob McCracken or add a US-based coach to his camp.
Lee was a middleweight champion and worked with Booth, among other things, during his career. Booth also has experience working up the weight classes and supervised David Hayes’ victories in cruise and heavyweight titles.
“I think Rob McCracken still has a big role to play in his career,” Lee said talkSPORT. “Just look at what he has done for Team GB.
“He has transformed the British boxing team from an average Western European team that would obviously have the only special fighter every Olympics – Audley Harrison, Amir Khan – while now consistently winning medals.
“So he’s obviously an experienced coach, but I think sometimes it’s not always the answer to go over to America.
“I think, because Tyson has done that and had a great result, you got Chisora to go with Buddy McGirt, Dillian Whyte has got Harold Knight, [Joshua] Buatsi is with Virgil Hunter and it is rarely successful.
Boxing coaching is about knowledge, but it is also about personalities and if I could give a recommendation to Anthony Joshua, if it’s worth anything, I would recommend Adam Booth.
“I think it’s a match made in heaven, there’s no one in the UK or in this game in general who understands what it takes to make significant improvements and judge a fighter and then verbalize and formulate how and why you should make one. certain thing and why it will be effective.
“There is no guessing with Adam; there is no smoke and mirrors, there is no smoke blowing up in the back and you get a lot of it in America.
“You get a lot of it in boxing in general, there are a lot of cheaters. Adam Booth is the best coach in England, for me.” I think he and Anthony Joshua would be a very exciting match up. “
Lee continued: “If I can recommend Adam Booth, I can add a warning to that. When they go to the gym, only those who enter the gym.
“They lock the door behind them, there is no one with cameras, there are no hype men, there is no one who peeks and screams. Close the door, go into the gym and work.
“And the results will speak for themselves because I think Adam Booth is the best coach out there and that he and Joshua together would make a vicious, dangerous team.”