Anthony Joshua has officially confirmed a major shake-up to his coaching setup, announcing that he has split from trainer Ben Davison ahead of his December 19 showdown with Jake Paul. The former two-time heavyweight champion revealed the move during the launch press conference, confirming he will now be trained by the team behind unified heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua explained that London had become “a bit distracting,” and that he accepted an invitation to train with Usyk’s camp in Spain. He described the experience as “phenomenal,” praising the insight gained from working with a team that has guided one of boxing’s most accomplished champions.
This is yet another significant adjustment, as he previously worked under Rob McCracken, Robert Garcia, Derrick James, and most recently Davison, who cornered him during his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. According to Joshua, Davison supported the decision when the two discussed it.
Joshua now prepares for a highly unusual assignment, facing Jake Paul in an eight-round professional heavyweight bout that will stream globally on Netflix. Paul was originally due to fight Gervonta Davis in a 135-pound matchup, but after that event collapsed, he instead finds himself facing a 6’6”, 250-pound former world champion.
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