By Charles Brun: Trainer James ‘Buddy’ McGirt insists that the struggling Anthony Joshua doesn’t need major adjustments to his game despite his three defeats in his last five fights.
McGirt states that for any coach to say that the 33-year-old former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) to be telling him that he needs major changes, “they’re lying.”
Many boxing fans would disagree with McGirt because when you’re losing at the pace that Joshua is, it suggests that significant changes are required to keep his sinking ship from dropping down into the abyss.
AJ looking for a magic coach
Joshua is currently hunting for a new trainer in the U.S., shopping around and looking for someone with magical powers that can reenergize his career.
The fact is that even if one of the legendary trainers from the past could be brought back from the grave to take charge of Joshua as his new coach, they’d soon be dumped as well, and the fruitless search would continue for him.
Joshua hasn’t looked the same since he was badly hurt in his fight with Wladimir Klitschko in 2017. AJ took a right hand to the head in that fight, which seems to have diminished his punch resistance.
That fight was a watershed moment in Joshua’s career, sending him down a steep trajectory.
No major adjustments needed for Joshua
“No, he hasn’t approached me,” said trainer Buddy McGirt to Boxing King Media when asked if Anthony Joshua had asked him to take over as his new trainer.
“Of course, it would interest me without a doubt. It would be great because I just think that with him, the adjustments that he needs are nothing major,” McGirt continued about the 33-year-old struggling Joshua.
“If anyone tries any major adjustments for him, it’s not going to work, and I think a lot of people are overlooking that. On the second hand, I’d only do it if he’s not fighting Dillian. If he’s fighting Dillian, I’ve got to stay with Dillian, of course, because I was with Dillian first.
“If he’s not fighting Dillian, yes, of course, I would love that. I really don’t know what happened behind the scenes with [trainer Robert] Garcia. I thought it was a good choice,” said McGirt, reacting to being told that Joshua and coach Robert Garcia had argued, which led to AJ choosing to look for another trainer.
“I heard he was with Vergil Hunter, and I heard he was with Derrick James. He was with Ronnie Shields at one time. He went to Canelo’s trainer [Eddy Reynoso] at one time.
“I really don’t know, but I hope he sits back and evaluates whatever decision that he makes, and understands that he doesn’t need no big adjustments, and if anyone tries to convince him that he does, they’re lying to him,” said McGirt about Josua.