SOURCES: Anthony Joshua’s New Trainer Confirmed As Former Champion Teams Up With Derrick James

2017 Ring Magazine Trainer Of The Year To Be Anthony Joshua’s New Trainer

Sources tell NoSmokeBoxing that former unified heavyweight champion, Britain’s Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) has chosen the 2017 Ring Magazine trainer of the year, Derrick James to be his new coach for the foreseeable future.

James, who has his gym in Dallas, Texas, is the trainer of unified welterweight titleist, Errol Spence Jr and undisputed super welterweight champion, Jermell Charlo. The Texan is also the front-runner for the 2022 trainer of the year.

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Joshua parted with long-term coach Robert McCracken after his first defeat to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk, and since then his training situation has been the centre of wide speculation and debate. It is understood that the British star turned to Californian Robert Garcia in early 2022 and staged his camp for the Usyk rematch with Garcia.

However, after just one camp with the American, the British star will once again move trainers as he now turns to the expertise of the highly-respected Derrick James. In his search for a new coach, Joshua is understood to have approached Virgil Hunter and Roy Jones Jr amongst other legendary names in the boxing industry.

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Joshua’s partnership with James may not be a long-term one. The former champion told Sporting News last year that he wants to be a “free spirit”.

“You know, I locked myself down for 11 years with one coach, and now I just feel like I just want to learn as much as possible. I feel I’m in a position where I’m able to work with anyone. So, yeah, who knows what will happen next year.”

For the time being, AJ is expected to return to the ring in the Spring of 2023 with April 1 being the most likely date. Promoter Eddie Hearn has previously stated that Joshua’s next bout would take place at London’s 18,000-capacity O2 Arena live on DAZN pay-per-view.

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Unconfirmed online rumours place undefeated Australian southpaw Demsey McKean (22-0, 14 KOs) as the opponent. McKean, the Matchroom-promoted Aussie, is ranked 10 in the world with the WBO and #11 with the IBF.

A fight between the pair could materialise as an eliminator for the #2 spot with the IBF and therefore pits Joshua on a collision course with the #1 Hrgovic, who is also with Matchroom, for the vacant world title should the championship be relinquished.

By Darshan Desai

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