Anthony Joshua’s training camp for Usyk was so ‘frustrating’ his coach demanded to be flown home after just one week

ANTHONY JOSHUA’S ex-coach said their training camp before rematching Oleksandr Usyk was so “frustrating” he wanted to fly home after a week.

Esteemed American Robert Garcia was hired to replace Rob McCracken following defeat to Usyk in September 2021.

PAAnthony Joshua pictured with former trainer Robert Garcia[/caption]

But in the rematch last August in Saudi Arabia, AJ was again beaten on points with Garcia and Angel Fernandez leading the corner.

Joshua has now parted with the two coaches and linked up with Derrick James in Dallas ahead of his April 1 return fight.

And Garcia has not shied away from lifting the lid on what he believes went wrong in camp with AJ.

He told iD Boxing: “I know that the work with me and Angel Fernandez wasn’t bad, but it honestly could have been better.

“Nobody mentions everything that went on in training camp, and I’m not going to mention it either. But we all know the way the training camp went.

“It was frustrating for me, there was so many new people in camp. The first week that I was there, I told his management team to fly me home.

“Because there were people there who, I believe, were not going to help out.”

Joshua, 33, is now fighting to revive his career following the consecutive losses to Usyk, 36.

He returns at the O2 next month against Jermaine Franklin, 29, who was controversially beaten on points by Dillian Whyte, 34, in November.

Joshua is completing his camp away from home for the first time in his career as Garcia backed the heavyweight to bounce back.

He said: “Now I think he’s in a great place, in a great training camp and I’m sure he’ll be in great shape.

“He’s going to get a good, solid win so his next fight can be against a big name.”

Derrick James pictured with Anthony JoshuaRichard Pelham / The Sun