_1656517849.jpg)
Veteran trainer Robert Garcia would strongly advise Anthony Joshua to take at least two to three fights before facing Deontay Wilder.
Eddie Hearn, who promotes the former two-time heavyweight champion, is very interested in matching his boxer against Wilder, the former WBC champion, at some point in 2023.
“One thing that I told [Joshua’s team], and I would tell them again now, is that I don’t recommend them to look for a big fight [such as Wilder] immediately,” Garcia told Izquierdazo.
“Anthony is a huge star in Europe, one of the biggest in history. He should look for two or three fights a little more adequate, I don’t want to say easy, because there are no easy fights, but he needs a more adequate fight.”
Joshua is looking to bounce back after suffering back to back decision losses to unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Garcia trained Joshua for the rematch with Usyk. The two have since parted ways, with Joshua currently hunting for a new head trainer.
“He needs to regain confidence, and get used to a new trainer,” Garcia said. “Because it was a big challenge to get a new trainer and go directly against Usyk, as was in my case. It’s not only a challenge for AJ, but also for me, to go into a rematch after being dominated in the first fight. It was difficult.”
Should a fight between Joshua and Wilder get made – Garcia is confident the contest will never reach a decision.
He believes the boxer to land the first dramatic punch will win the fight.
“I think that is a fight that wouldn’t go to the scorecards,” Garcia said. “Both of them hit hard. Many may think that Wilder is going to knock AJ out, but I think that whoever lands first [will win the fight].
“I worked with Anthony, and he hits hard. I have never felt Wilder’s power, but it looks like a hard punch. But Anthony’s punching power is very strong. I think [Anthony] has the same punching power [as Wilder], it can’t be any less strong than Wilder. So I think that whoever lands first [wins the fight].”