Anthony Joshua likes trainer Rob McCracken to Sir Alex Ferguson and explains how to add to the training team | Boxing news

Anthony Joshua: “Rob McCracken and I were getting over the world, just me and him, but I said: ‘We need another set of eyes’; AJ explains the role of his head coach and the those who have recently joined his team

Anthony Joshua maintains that his long-time coach Rob McCracken is similar to Sir Alex Ferguson but in need of “another set of eyes” saw him hire an addition to his coaching staff.

Joby Clayton and Angel Fernandez were added to the McCracken-led staff before Joshua replaced him with Andy Ruiz Jr. when he updated his approach leading to two consecutive wins, from recently against Kubrat Pulev.

Joshua, an IBF, WBA and WBO overweight champion, believes McCracken, the GB Team coach who led him to the 2012 Olympic gold medal, has the same status as the legendary manager of Manchester United.

“Rob is a gaffer – I look at him as Sir Alex Ferguson,” said Joshua. Sky Sports.

“Great manager, great trainer, great experience.”

Joshua explained his advanced train team: “Me and [Sean Murphy] they influenced the early stage of the amateurs around England.

“Rob and I influenced the international stage as an amateur. Then I turned pro and Rob and I made an impact on the world.

“Around Wladimir Klitschko ‘s fight everyone said:’ That was an explanatory fight, you went down rising, showing a real heroic spirit ‘.

“In my head I thought: ‘This is a whole new level. There was a level of stress that I was dealing with, moving on.

“It’s easy to see what the big people were doing now. Before that, you couldn’t see because there weren’t that many [social media]. There are so many sources of information now.

“Rob and I were getting the better of the world, just me and him, but I said: ‘We need another set of eyes’.

“It was about introducing a new mix to help me study different levels of grandeur.”

The additions of Clayton and Fernandez helped Joshua recover from the loss of Ruiz Jr and return to a situation where fighting against WBC champion Tyson Fury had never been closer.

Joshua described Clayton’s unique approach: “Joby is a martial artist who looks at things from a healthy – lifestyle perspective, going back to the old Kronk fighting style of the old school where you fight to a point where you capture pictures and knock people. out.

“It says:‘ Loose and heavy ’.

“There is no tension. A cold mind. In the heat of battle who has the coldest mind?

“In training I look at myself in the mirror and go to my basics – a cold mind, a high spine, the biggest one in the room, confidence.

“Sometimes I shade a box and speak like I’m the narrator.

“You start processing what a horror it is. I have self-expression, unique affirmations.”

Trainer Clayton had previously mentioned Sky Sports about his connection to Joshua: “What AJ was interested in from my teaching was when I talked about grace and rhythm. Wild animals move in a very graceful way regardless of whether they are the hunter or whether they are hunted – their movements are effective for survival, there is no taste.

“I look to develop this grace within an individual, starting with effective breathing, then becoming aware of their body and how to you generate rest. “

With a stronger team than ever, Joshua believes he is only just beginning to realize his potential.

“From 18 to 21 I walked into the gym and went to the Olympics,” Joshua said. “From 22 to the world title. It’s only now that I feel like I’ve immersed myself in what’s in boxing.

“Now I’ve figured out what I need to be successful. It’s about micro-management.

“Instead of someone saying:‘ Don’t worry son, you just focus on that and we’ll take care of everything else ’.

“I say:‘ No, I want to be involved in everything ’.

“I know what I need to do to win. That’s the level of maturity.”