Carl Froch believes Anthony Joshua has regressed in his career since changing coaches Rob McCracken in 2021 after his first defeat against Oleksandr Usyk. Froch says Joshua (28-4, 25 KO) needs a “rebuild” of his training team after losing to IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois by fifth-round knockout last Saturday night at Wembley Stadium.

Coach AJ, Ben Davisonhe reportedly had him throw two jabs and an uppercut in the fifth round against Dubois (22-2, 21 KO). Joshua followed up this attack and was knocked out by Dubois after being nailed with a counter right.

Froch doesn’t need to say it because after a performance like that, firing Ben Davison should be a no-brainer. The problem wasn’t just the instructions given to Joshua before the fifth round. Because Ben Davison is ship captainhe is the one who should be fired for pushing Joshua into the rocks.

This was the icing on the cake. The real problems were:

• Passive combat in the first round: Joshua came out in the first round looking scared, running around the ring and being chased by Dubois. What the hell was Joshua doing? He doesn’t shy away from a slugger like Dubois because he’s faced these types of players throughout his career and knows how to deal with them.
• Gaining weight: AJ gained weight in his upper body during training camp and that weight slowed him down, making him overly muscular. It was a stupid move.
• Supporting China in the air: In the first round, Joshua retreated with his chin up, almost challenging Dubois to tag him.

“Ben Davison wanted AJ to look for an uppercut, which is a unsafe strike,” Carl Froch said in his canalspeaking about the promotion Anthony Joshua received from his trainer Ben Davison ahead of the fifth round of his fight against IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois last Saturday night at Wembley Stadium.

This is what Joshua gains by using Davison as his trainer instead of sticking with McCracken as his trainer. AJ should have stayed devoted to McCracken because he did a good job for him. Joshua wasn’t going to beat Usyk, regardless of who his trainer was. We saw this when AJ was defeated in his rematch and McCracken was no longer with him.

“When you throw your chin from a long distance, your chin stays exposed. That was the reason he lost that fight and got a terrible knockout. For me it is [Joshua] he went backwards. His condition is not improving,” Froch said.

Joshua has been in the sport long enough to know that it would be madness for him to throw an uppercut at a puncher as powerful as Dubois. Ideally, Joshua would have simply ignored what Davison told him and acted logically with an outside punch. Joshua could always fire him after the fight for such instructions and find someone good like McCracken.

“He had four ‘give me’ fights and now he faced a live opponent in Daniel Dubois, who can punch. This is why [instructions to throw an uppercut] in round five was a stupid idea,” Froch said.

Those four cans of tomatoes that promoter Eddie Hearn fed Joshua after his second loss to Usyk seemed to plant ideas in his head, making him think he could dominate Dubois like he did. What a mistake.

“He has regressed since leaving Rob McCracken and if he is to go forward and come back and have a rematch with Daniel Dubois, I don’t think he has the right team around him. He needs huge changes in the team,” Froch said.

The weekend is coming and from Friday to Sunday there will be a “fight of the hour” somewhere in the world. Every Thursday, The Ring will bring you the latest information on the top fights you need to see in this condensed, streamlined fight week schedule. Our goal is to provide a quick checklist for those in the know and a handy guide to the most crucial information for the boxing novice.

Here are the most crucial fights of this week:

Friday, September 27 – Madison Square Garden Theatre, Fresh York

There is no love lost between these two. They’ve already set everything up nicely in a fiery press conference and vow to bring the heat to the ring as well. In a weekend ruled by women’s boxing, this fight may be the fight we remember most come December when we decide our annual awards. They have a lot of talent and power that goes hand in hand with mutual contempt, and that’s always a fun recipe. Don’t blink.

Also on this card: :

Where to watch it: ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+

Friday, September 27 – Lux Studios, Atlanta, Ga.

Baumgardner has come under close scrutiny after showing mixed results in several doping tests following her latest victory. She chose a hellish enemy from whom she wanted to clear her name. Persoon is a killer punch and a slightly sullied fighter who will not be afraid of a fierce competition with the current Ring champion. It won’t be pretty, but I guess we all like it that way, right?

Also on this card: :

Where to watch it: BrinxTV

Friday, September 27 – Park Community Arena, Sheffield, England

Where to watch it: DAZN

Friday, September 27 – York Hall, London

Friday, September 27 – Resorts Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, Fresh Jersey

Saturday, September 28 – Park Community Arena, Sheffield, England

Where to watch it: DAZN

Saturday, September 28 – MHP Arena, Ludwigsburg, Germany

Where to watch it: DAZN

Saturday, September 28 – 2300 Arena in Philadelphia

Saturday, September 28 – Pacific Palms Resort, City of Industry, California.

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Tim Tszyu is coming off of losing his world title to Sebastian Fundora — a bloody fight in which Tszyu suffered a solemn injury — to a clash with another world titleholder, Bakhram Murtazaliev.

Oh, and he was originally hoping to face Vergil Ortiz in the summer until doctors told Tszyu he couldn’t return to the ring just yet.

It’s a different path than many other fighters have taken. But that’s just how Tszyu wants it to be.

“There’s no fear. It’s not in my bloodstream at all,” Tszyu told media during a Sept. 24 conference call. “I only want the biggest and best contenders. Whoever they call the bad guy, give him to me. Feed him to me.”

Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KOs) won the IBF junior middleweight title in early April, a week after Tszyu’s fight with Fundora, by knocking out Jack Culcay in the 11th round.

Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) isn’t particularly familiar with his next opponent, but he knows what to expect.

“I haven’t watched much,” Tszyu said. “I know what he brings. He brings heat. You hit him and he keeps coming. These types of styles are arduous because they have a dog in them. It always presents us with a huge task. I believe in my skills and everything goes according to plan. Nothing should be uncomplicated on the way to the top. There’s no such thing as an uncomplicated camp or an uncomplicated fight. If you want to get to the top and win gigantic money, you have to go through fire.”

Fire is what Tszyu faced in behind schedule March when his head accidentally collided with Fundora’s elbow behind schedule in the second round, opening a horrific hairline gash. Blood poured out and blocked his vision. Tszyu lost a split decision and lost his WBO world title, while Fundora also won the vacant WBC belt.

Fire is also what Tszyu would have had to face on August 3rd if he had been allowed to fight Ortiz. Instead, Ortiz won a battle with Serhiy Bohachuk on August 10th.

We can expect that fire on October 19 at the Caribe Royale Orlando, when Murtazaliev-Tszyu will headline the Prime Video show on Amazon.

“I’m turning up the heat,” Tszyu said. “I hope he doesn’t take a step back. I hope there won’t be as much blood on my side this time. I hope there’s some non-stop action and we give the fans a fight they won’t forget.”

And if he can beat Murtazaliev, Tszyu could be fighting for the best and worst, considering he plays in a division loaded with talent.

“Warming up names, some gigantic matchups to make,” he said. “When you think about it, let’s just say there are going to be so many crazy matchups to make in the near future. It’s so stimulating.”