Anthony Joshua has added two new trainers to his coaching team as he attempts to win back his world heavyweight titles against Andy Ruiz Jr next month.
Sportsmail can reveal that both Angel Fernandez and Joby Clayton have joined Joshua’s camp as pad men to help the heavyweight right the wrongs of his first career defeat.
Joshua was knocked down four times on the way to a stunning stoppage defeat by Ruiz Jr back in June.
His head coach Rob McCracken came in for criticism after that loss in New York and, though AJ has stuck by the man who guided him to the unified heavyweight titles, changes have been made behind the scenes.
Following that defeat, McCracken revealed that ‘new faces’ would join AJ’s expansive training team and reports have since claimed that Fernandez, who coaches a number of fighters including British cruiserweight Isaac Chamberlain, had joined the camp.
There are concerns that such changes could have a detrimental effect, however. Respected trainer Shane McGuigan said last week that adding new faces – and having more than one voice in his ear – could ‘massively work against’ AJ.
But Sportsmail can confirm that Clayton has also been brought in.
Joshua’s team insist McCracken remains in charge, with the addition of two pad men allowing the guru of British amateur boxing a more overarching role.
‘Under the guidance and instruction of head coach Rob McCracken, Anthony and Robert have complimented his team in this camp by using the services of two specialist coaches,’ a spokesman for Team AJ said.
It’s not the first time Joshua has tinkered with his camp and the hope is this new-look team will allow the heavyweight to regain his place atop the division when he takes on Ruiz in Saudi Arabia on December 7.
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