Anthony Joshua criticized by Carl Froch for criticizing the former coach

Carl Froch has criticized Anthony Joshua for criticizing the pair’s former trainer Rob McCracken, while accusing the heavyweight of making a “bitch move”.

Joshua is preparing for an August rematch with Dillian Whyte, eight years after knocking out his fellow Briton, and the bout will mark “AJ’s” second fight under trainer Derrick James. Before teaming with James for a points win over Jermaine Franklin in April, Joshua fought Robert Garcia in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk last summer.

Joshua, 33, lost a decision to Usyk, just as he did in 2021 in his final fight with McCracken in his corner. Speaking on the Boxing News Podcast last weekend, Joshua said of his former trainer, who led him to two world title reigns and an Olympic gold medal: “Rob is a very good trainer. All I’ll say though is: he looks at Froch’s nose. [McCracken] it just didn’t teach me defense.

“I was getting hit too much with clean shots…Rob was too committed to the Olympic team, not the pro team. I gave Rob my best years, and now I have to dig deep to get them back.”

The retired Froch, 46, became unified super middleweight champion with McCracken, hitting back at Joshua while defending his former trainer.

Froch told Talksport on Tuesday (July 18): “For a grown man trying to personally insult another grown man because of his physical appearance, that’s an ab*** move to me. I sincerely hope you’re talking about the old nose, not the new reconstructed piece of art I’m wearing on my face right now, because I’m actually quite happy with this nose.

“But my nose and cosmetic features aside, I see this as a real dig at Rob McCracken. [… who] guided him to an Olympic gold medal in 2012, Olympic champion. He’s working with someone who isn’t a natural fighter in Anthony Joshua, who didn’t have that amateur pedigree when he was a college kid. He did a fantastic job.

“AND [Joshua] he has the audacity and the disrespect to say that he wasted years with Rob McCracken and didn’t teach him defense. To me, that’s disgusting. There’s no coming back from that for me, for AJ.

“I’m not going to blame him, because he’s done what he thinks is right for him, and he’s criticizing me personally, which is fine… It’s out of line what he said about Rob McCracken, I think he’ll probably regret it. to have said what he said. I won’t hold it against him, but I think it’s appropriate disrespect for a guy who led him to the Olympic title and two world titles.”

Joshua’s rematch with Whyte will take place at London’s O2 Arena on August 12, with both men looking to build on victories against Franklin last time out. Before Joshua bested the American in April, Whyte defeated Franklin by decision in November.

Joshua vs Whyte in August will be the Brits’ third meeting, with Whyte beating Joshua in the amateurs before the latter won by knockout in their professional rematch.

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