Anthony Joshua’s Trainer Reveals What Improvements He Has Made For Franklin
Anthony Joshua’s improvements have been revealed ahead of his fight with Jermaine Franklin. NoSmokeSport broke the news that Joshua chose the 2017 Ring Magazine trainer of the year, Derrick James to be his new coach. James and Joshua have since based their work together out in Dallas, Texas.
On the day of the press conference of Joshua’s fight with Jermaine Franklin this weekend, fight fans have been given a unique insight into how he will look as a fighter under Derrick James’ tutelage.
What Improvements Has Anthony Joshua Made
Derrick James told YouTuber, October Red that he had ‘added a bit of mobility, defense and counter-punching skills’ to Joshua’s game.
The three attributes that James has worked on with Anthony Joshua in the gym give a welcome cause for optimism to the British heavyweight’s devoted fans. That’s because it shows James has an understanding that Anthony Joshua needs to develop further strategies for swaying a fight back in his favor when he is under pressure.
In Anthony Joshua’s last fight with Oleksandr Usyk, the Ukrainian had a resurgent burst of aggression in the 10th round, after AJ had him reeling in the 9th. At that moment, the fight went beyond Joshua. But you get the sense from James that he has studied that section of tape in particular, to make sure he is coaching Joshua ways to be better equipped for moments when his opponent is on top in a fight.
Derick James also elaborated further to October Red on the specific strengths Joshua had been showing in the defensive side of his game, saying that ‘he’s blocking punches, he’s moving, he’s giving angles.’
At the end of the 6th round in Franklin’s last fight with Dillian Whyte, the American landed a 7-punch combination. Moments like that were the basis upon which many observers of the fight had Franklin winning.
An unambiguous Anthony Joshua win at the weekend is needed to help place him back on track for the big fights, that he has traditionally been involved in. Therefore, Joshua working on his capabilities to take shots on the gloves and move out of the way of the line of fire, when Franklin looks to throw punches in bunches as he did against Whyte, will be pivotal.
By Harry Duffy
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