Anthony Joshua has strengthened body and mind behind gym doors, so we asked trainer Rob McCracken to explain how the world champion can become even better?
Since turning professional in 2013, the 28-year-old heavyweight has compiled a 21-fight unbeaten record, earning the WBA ‘super’, IBF and WBO belts which will be defended against Alexander Povetkin at Wembley on September 22
oshua has undergone extra sparring sessions as he prepares for Povetkin, a fellow Olympic gold medallist, and long-term coach McCracken outlines what he wants to see from AJ next weekend and in the years ahead…
Did Joshua always have the raw attributes for success?
I think you could say that he did, but obviously it’s refining it, and the experiences that he had on the GB programme. Going to World Championships, Europeans, and Olympic Games was vital to his development.
He’s been brought along well in the pros and fought good fighters, and also had really good sparring. Heavyweight boxing is different to the rest of boxing. They are very big, they are very powerful, they can box, they can fight. That’s what excites most people. He’s the world heavyweight champion, he’s unified, and he intends to do a little bit more yet.
What specific improvements do you want to see from AJ?
I would like to see him flowing nicely. Punch at the right times. Povetkin is very dogged and awkward and powerful and squat, so he makes it hard for you to find the gaps to hit him with jabs and right hands as you’ve seen with the [Wladimir] Klitschko fight.
You’ve just got to pick your spots with Povetkin, and you’ve got to avoid his hooks over the top, and he comes in square as well, so that poses certain difficulties as well.
It’s a world heavyweight title fight – it’s going to be two top fighters, two former Olympic champions going at it, but I feel AJ’s the younger, fresher man. He can use his reach, if he flows and he boxes, and he meets him at mid-range, starts to break him down, but Povetkin for sure will come and he’ll be a danger.
What technical challenges will be posed by Povetkin?
He’ll pose a few. He’s technically very good, he’s Olympic champion, former world champion. We saw him recently in the UK, boxing David Price. He’s very dangerous and he’s very capable, so they’ll be a few challenges.
