By all accounts, coach Robert Garcia is likely one of the good guys within the sport. However that is boxing and, whether or not they’re good guys or not, boxing individuals won’t hesitate to throw you beneath the bus if it means defending their backside line enterprise pursuits.
Final August, after Anthony Joshua misplaced for a second time to Oleksandr Usyk (and had a subsequent in-ring meltdown after the choice got here in), Garcia, who labored with Joshua for that battle, gave an interview to the Spanish-language web site Izquierdazo. In that interview, the veteran coach was essential of the previous heavyweight champ’s frame of mind for the battle.
“It was Anthony Joshua who mentally defeated himself. Within the ninth, Joshua threw a variety of punches, and nearly put Usyk out. Possibly, he emptied out, however possibly it was simply that Usyk got here stronger and extra motivated to the tenth spherical, we don’t know.
“On this battle, I believe that Usyk was mentally stronger. I believe he was stronger, to the purpose that after being near a knockout, as a substitute of giving up, he got here again stronger…And I believe that Anthony’s thoughts is a bit weaker than Usyk’s…
“Due to my very own expertise, I can discover when a fighter is mentally defeated…Directions don’t work, as a result of the fighter is just not listening anymore, his thoughts collapses. What we did with Anthony was making an attempt to encourage him, and never giving directions on the best way to win the battle. It’s important to instill photos, like his household, to change him on, however that didn’t work both.”
Predictably, the proverbial shit hit the fan when that interview was translated to English and bought picked up by English-language websites. The backlash threatened to chop off a potential second Anthony Joshua windfall for Garcia.
So, Garcia did what so many boxing individuals would do in the identical scenario. He lined his ass and claimed to be misquoted.
“I talked to a Spanish [site] that I do know, so I gave them an interview. However from Spanish translated to English, they make it look like ‘Robert is speaking shit’ just about,” Garcia advised ESNEWS after he began getting some blowback from the Izquierdazo interview.
“However, no, I might by no means say that about my fighters. I’ve by no means completed it earlier than, and I by no means will. Plus, Anthony was preventing an amazing battle.
“The headline is, ‘Robert says Anthony mentally beat himself’ however I by no means stated that. I stated that Usyk after being damage actually unhealthy within the ninth he got here within the tenth like that by no means occurred, he got here sturdy which you’ve bought to applaud that. In order that’s not saying ‘oh Anthony was beat mentally’.
“We see that stuff from haters. However should you see it from reviews, ‘Breaking information’ and shit like that, then that form of bothers you as a result of there are individuals on the market who is likely to be part of the staff that truly do consider it. That truly assume that it’s true.
“Phrases in Spanish translated to English, it’s a giant distinction, however it’s the way in which it’s. It bothers a bit, however it’s not the tip…If one thing like that occurs and the fighter believes that and doesn’t need to get the true story, then that’s his drawback too. In the event that they learn that, ‘Is that this what I’m studying? Is it true?’ No.
“It’s truly a great story, however translated to English the way in which individuals do, they make it look like I’m speaking unhealthy [about Joshua].”
Regardless of native Spanish audio system confirming that the translated quotes had been correct and regardless of Izquierdazo’s affirmation that they bought the phrases and that means right, Garcia held agency that he hadn’t actually stated what he stated.
And now, nearly seven months later, Garcia admits that he, certainly, stated what he stated.
“Simply because I used to be his coach doesn’t imply I’m gonna lie about [his performance],” Garcia advised iD Boxing in a latest video interview. “I wasn’t the one one which stated that. Then he ought to be mad and he ought to be pissed off with the entire world as a result of principally all people stated the identical factor…
“So there was so much to be stated by so many boxing individuals, so many boxing specialists, as a result of I’m not the one one which stated that. After which what occurred after the battle when he grabbed the mic and all that, I believe that was a variety of frustration. I believe that needed to do with possibly understanding that you just had been so shut and also you let it go. Possibly a bit little bit of embarrassment as a result of that response wasn’t the best response {that a} fighter usually takes.
“In the event that they’re [Team Joshua] pissed off or they’re a bit mad for possibly one thing that I stated about his efficiency or about his thoughts…psychological issues…effectively, I used to be simply being sincere and making an attempt to say the reality. If that is the explanation they’re pissed off, effectively, there’s nothing I can do.”
So, why harp on Garcia, who IS one of many good guys, when there’s a lot different (greater) bullshit to take care of in boxing and its media?
As a result of the reality issues.
Lord is aware of the boxing media wants and deserves figurative (and possibly literal) kicks within the ass, violently and regularly. However, on this case, they didn’t get it mistaken. Garcia hanging these individuals out to dry, making them the topic of scorn, simply because the phrases he spoke got here again to chew him on the ass and threaten future paydays, is flat-out mistaken.
