Anthony Joshua’s ex-coach breaks silence after being axed and reveals what heavyweight star must do with next trainer

ANTHONY JOSHUA’s former coach Robert Garcia has broken his silence on his axing – revealing he was given the boot in a frank phone call.

Garcia – the trainer of 14 former world champions – was drafted in by the Watford warrior ahead of his crunch rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in August.

GETTYAnthony Joshua teamed up with Robert Garcia ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk[/caption]

But he parted company with the American after his second defeat to UsykGETTY

REUTERSGarcia has no hard feelings about his departure from the team[/caption]

But the American couldn’t guide Joshua to victory in the Saudi showdown, which ultimately led AJ to go in a different direction with his coaching.

Garcia told ES News: “Anthony called me and told me what he was doing.”

Joshua, 33, is currently in the USA feeling out potential new head coaches for the rebuilding chapter of his career.

The former two-time unified heavyweight champ was recently spotted training in Los Angeles with Virgil Hunter – the ex-trainer of fellow Brit Amir Khan.

And Garcia completely understands Joshua’s reasoning for giving him his marching orders.

He continued: “I understand you know, the way he is seeing things and honestly, I wish him the best.

“Even if it was me again, I understand they are trying to fight sometime in the spring, having to go to camp in England it was very difficult for me because I know that Jose [Ramirez] is fighting during that time.

“So, I’ve got to train his a*** off to get him ready to fight. Also, Bam [Rodriguez] will be fighting during that time.”

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

“It’s not about Virgil Hunter doing a better job, Derrick James doing a better job or me doing a better job than his previous trainer.

“It’s about him getting out of his comfort zone and not being the boss and doing what he’s told to do in a place where he’s not comfortable.”

He added: “It doesn’t matter who it is, when he comes back, I know they’re going to pick him two or three easy fights so that’s going to make any trainer look good.

“But it’s a big difference I went in there against Usyk and we still did better than anyone expected.”

Joshua suffered a split decision defeat to Usyk in their Saudi showdown, although Garcia, like many others, believes he gave a much better account of himself than they did in their Tottenham tussle last September.

He said: “I went in there against Usyk and we still did better than anyone expected.”

Joshua is expected to return to the ring in late March once he finalises his new coaching team, with a domestic dust-up with Dillian Whyte in his sights.

But promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed talks over a long-awaited grudge match with Deontay Wilder have taken place.

GETTYAnthony Joshua is hoping to return to the ring early next year[/caption]