Anthony Joshua has been criticised for linking up with Oleksandr Usyk's team just months before his proposed clash with Tyson Fury. While an official venue or date is yet to be confirmed for Joshua's meeting with Fury, the fight looks set to take place on November 20 at Madison Square Garden, New York.
Joshua training with Usyk's camp
For the last few months, Joshua has been getting fight-ready with the Ukrainian's camp. The pair fought twice in 2021 and 2022, with Usyk winning both encounters. They are now close friends, with Joshua joining his friend's team ahead of his fight with Jake Paul back in December.
Joshua secured a knockout victory in that encounter. He returned to the ring last month, seven months after being involved in a car crash. The 36-year-old survived two knockdowns before toppling Kristian Prenga in the second round.
Froch criticises corner advice
Joshua once again had Usyk's long-time coaches in his corner, but the cornermen faced criticism after the fight for the advice they gave at the end of the opening stanza against Prenga. Former world champion Carl Froch believes some of the criticism was justified.
Speaking to NewBettingSites.uk, Froch said: "Team Usyk is probably the right team to get him fit and maybe get him in a good mental place. Are they the right team for the corner work after what I watched in that last clip? No, because there is a language problem."
He added: "There is a communication barrier. Some of the stuff they were saying, I didn't even understand what they meant by it. It was a bad attempt at a motivational speech."
Froch on Rob McCracken
Froch also said Joshua should never have parted ways with Rob McCracken. Joshua left the trainer in 2022 and has since worked with Robert Garcia, Derrick James and Ben Davison, before switching to Team Usyk's Sergey Lapin.
Froch said: "Should he have Rob in the corner? I think he should have always stayed with Rob McCracken in the corner. Rob McCracken is a man of principles. He is not a man motivated by money. He is motivated by boxing, loyalty, honesty and integrity, and he has got your back."
He continued: "Would Rob have him back? I can't speak for Rob McCracken, but I can give my opinion on it. Not a cat in hell's chance would Rob McCracken ever work with Anthony Joshua, in my opinion. Ever. That ship has sailed. AJ does not deserve somebody like Rob McCracken after the way he treated him."
