Anthony Joshua needs a “brain transplant,” according to Carl Froch if he wants to defeat Oleksandr Usyk and win the heavyweight title a third time.
Before their rematch on August 20 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Froch questioned Joshua’s mentality but acknowledged that the Watford-born fighter has the physical ability to defeat Usyk.
Usyk prevailed in their first encounter last September at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium via unanimous decision, but Joshua now has a new trainer in Robert Garcia, who is expected to give the 32-year-boxing old’s approach more aggression.
Despite the change, Froch, a former super-middleweight champion, does not think Joshua will be able to reverse the situation this time.
“Sometimes a change is good, but for Anthony Joshua to beat Oleksandr Usyk, he needs a brain transplant. Froch said on Betfred’s Lightweight Boxing Show. He added that Joshua possesses all the necessary physical qualities, but in his opinion, he cannot defeat him.
Joshua only lost once in a professional fight before their previous encounter, when he was defeated by Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019.
Joshua will be looking to get revenge on Usyk, especially after parting ways with his former trainer Rob McCraken to hire Garcia.
Froch, in a separate interview with iFL TV, added, “I think it’s going to be difficult for Joshua to beat Usyk in this rematch; it’s going to be very difficult unless he changes his train of thought and his mindset.”
He states that his mind must be perfect. He must begin to have confidence in himself and enter the ring knowing that he is capable of and willing to complete the task at hand. He can succeed if he enters the situation with faith.
“I just think since the Ruiz loss, he hasn’t had that mindset and hasn’t had that mentality of a winner. He just sort of got through the rematch with Ruiz, and I wasn’t impressed with the (Kubrat) Pulev victory.
