Robert Garcia and The Art of Training Superstars

Interview by Declan Warrington


BN: How has learning heโ€™ll soon be a parent affected Jesse Rodriguez?

RG: When somebodyโ€™s expecting their first baby, it does change the way they think. His mentality has changed; heโ€™s a little bit more focused and serious about life itself; it makes a big change on any human being.

Thereโ€™s situations where a fighter thinks a little more about risking his health and life in the ring; where fighters hold back a little when they start having a family. Itโ€™s something that could work both ways. We wonโ€™t see until fight night, but from what it looks like now in training camp and showing us the hunger that he has during sparring, it looks like itโ€™s motivated him in a positive way, where heโ€™ll try even harder. Heโ€™s been in camp for almost three months. Some fighters โ€“ย maybe theyโ€™d come to camp a little bit later, or train at home for a few weeks, having a girlfriend thatโ€™s pregnant and wanting to be with her. But no, heโ€™s decided to get here [Oxnard, California] for September, and has been focused. That says a lot.

Talent-wise heโ€™s up there among the best [Iโ€™ve trained]. I never include my brother Mikey because heโ€™s my brother and I donโ€™t like to put him at number one โ€“ย of course youโ€™ll pick your brother โ€“ but Mikeyโ€™s so smart, very technical, and knew when to connect. Skills-wise itโ€™s between โ€œBamโ€ and Nonito Donaire [as number one]. Nonito Donaire was great โ€“ he had some great talent.


BN: How good is Sunny Edwards?

RG: Great fighter. Great fighter. Very talented; very difficult; fast. Itโ€™s a real challenge for us. Itโ€™s going to be a great fight.

What weโ€™re seeing on social media and what he says in interviews โ€“ heโ€™s good for boxing. Heโ€™s already a champion whoโ€™s defended his title a few times. He backs up what he says, which is good. Iโ€™m happy weโ€™re facing him; heโ€™s the one who says more about the way he feels; the way boxing is.

Heโ€™s gonna listen and heโ€™s gonna fight smart and heโ€™s gonna box [and avoid the ropes]. Heโ€™s gonna try and use his feet to move around; weโ€™re gonna have our moments too, but heโ€™s going to have his moments. Itโ€™s going to be a fight where, round by round, weโ€™re going to figure out little things and heโ€™s going to do the same with his corner. Thatโ€™s what makes this such an interesting fight. Itโ€™s maybe the best fight of the lower weight classes of the year. They deserve a lot of credit for accepting the fight; Sunny for even coming to the country and proving himself. Thatโ€™s what a real warrior โ€“ a real fighter โ€“ does.

I let [Rodriguezโ€™s] father go [on the press tour] instead of me because the dad wanted to spend time with his son โ€“ I had a lot of work anyways โ€“ he was a little surprised because he tells me what weโ€™ve seen on social media, [and] it was totally the opposite. [Edwards] was very friendly; they played a few games together. It was very respectful. That tells you heโ€™s a good person, and says what he says to sell a fight. Smaller weights need a fight like this.

Guys like Chocolatito [Roman Gonzalez]; [Carlos] Cuadras; [McWilliams] Arroyo; [Srisaket Sor] Rungvisai made a change. They forced these kids to do the same thing. Itโ€™s something they started โ€“ they fight each other โ€“ and the younger generation needs to continue that so the boxing world keeps those weight classes in mind.


BN: As his former trainer, how risky do you consider Anthony Joshuaโ€™s fight with Otto Wallin?

RG: One thing about Anthony is he could struggle at looking good, like he has in the past couple of fights, where thereโ€™s a little holding back โ€“ but he gets the work done. His last fight [against Robert Helenius in August] he had a really nice knockout, where maybe earlier people were saying, โ€˜Heโ€™s afraidโ€™. In the end, he got the work done.

Heโ€™s an athlete; heโ€™s a very, very talented fighter โ€“ probably the most talented in the heavyweight division. People question his heart; his mentality; his problems. But, it could take four, five, six rounds โ€“ย heโ€™ll get the work done. One punch could change everything around.

He knows whatโ€™s next. He knows theyโ€™re both fighting on the same card โ€“ [Deontay] Wilder. Most possibly theyโ€™ll fight each other next. So heโ€™s gonna be ready. I actually think heโ€™s going to impress โ€“ heโ€™s going to impress to a point where people actually think Anthony Joshua could beat Wilder. I think he could.

There will be plenty of time to prepare [for Wilder, regardless of Wallin being a southpaw]. He just needs to get this fight out of the way, and I think Anthony knows โ€“ thatโ€™s why I believe heโ€™s going to perform. Heโ€™s going to look good and prove everybody that talks negative about him wrong. Itโ€™s going to show the world that he belongs up there with the best. I truly believe Anthony could beat Wilder. Wilder has great power, but, besides that it could even be an easy fight for Anthony.

With Wilder, weโ€™ve seen a few of his performances, and he hasnโ€™t looked very well โ€“ย especially the last fight against Tyson Fury [in 2021]. If he lands he could hurt Anthony and maybe knock him out, but when it comes to skills, to footwork, I put Anthony way ahead, so I donโ€™t see why people have Wilder so high, thinking heโ€™s gonna beat Anthony so easy. Anthonyโ€™s got better skills; heโ€™s a complete athlete, and when it comes to that fight heโ€™s going to be at his best. Heโ€™s gonna prove a lot of people wrong.


BN: What do you think of him being guided by Ben Davison, and not Derrick James, for this fight?

RG: Honestly, I donโ€™t think thereโ€™s any trainer in the world thatโ€™s gonna make a big difference. Anthonyโ€™s already an athlete; heโ€™s a fighter thatโ€™s been fighting for quite a while. Can somebody change his style? I donโ€™t think so. Heโ€™s himself. It doesnโ€™t matter who heโ€™s training with. Switch the story around โ€“ Ryan Garcia [against Oscar Duarte]. I didnโ€™t see much of a difference in his last fight. He did things I donโ€™t think Derrick James is teaching him. He was dropping his right hand every time he threw his left. When you already have those types of fighters thereโ€™s not much to teach.

Sometimes itโ€™s better for somebody to work with them in a positive way mentally. Maybe Davison is the right guy to do that. Any trainer being strict and doing their job will have Anthony in great shape โ€“ย and thatโ€™s what he needs. Most of the people around him are โ€œYesโ€ men. Itโ€™s very normal when you have a superstar. Derrick James did a good job โ€“ย heโ€™s a great trainer.


BNโ€ฆyou think heโ€™s the most talented heavyweight in the world?

RG: I canโ€™t say heโ€™s more talented than [Oleksandr] Usyk because Usykโ€™s coming from the smaller weight classes. Heโ€™s fast; got really good footwork; good angles. But heโ€™s too small. Iโ€™d love to see him beat [Tyson] Fury up, because I was a little disappointed in Fury for what he did in his last fight [against Francis Ngannou]. He disrespected boxing โ€“ I donโ€™t think he even trained for that fight. But if Furyโ€™s in shape, heโ€™s a very dangerous fighter. But, skills-wise? Anthony Joshuaโ€™s much more skilled. Furyโ€™s not as talented, but heโ€™s a better fighter, because he knows how to use his body; he knows how to hold; how to push. Even his gloves โ€“ he has them loose. Heโ€™s a complete fighter. Anthony Joshua wonโ€™t do stuff like that โ€“ heโ€™s too fair. Too honest with himself. โ€œI canโ€™t do that. I donโ€™t want to do that.โ€ Man, when youโ€™re in trouble, you gotta learn to hit your opponent with a low blow so you get a five-minute break. Fury knows all that. He uses his weight to tire out his opponents. Thatโ€™s what heโ€™ll do with Usyk โ€“ use his body; his weight. If Furyโ€™s in great shape I can see him beating Usyk.

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