Anthony Joshua’s training partners chosen by David ‘KD’ Ghansa: How were lefties selected for the grueling task? | Boxing News

Finding Anthony Joshua’s training partners to prepare for Oleksandr Usyk was a “nightmare”, but David “KD” Ghansa reveals how he selected top contenders …

Who are Joshua’s sparring partners?

Demsey McKean

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“He’s been on our list for a very long time,” David ‘KD’ Ghansa, a member of Joshua’s management team who is looking for training partners, told Sky Sports. “He was in Australia but I randomly got a call saying, ‘He’s in the country’.

“He’s a big guy, he’s strong, he fights well back and forth.

“He’s ranked No 10 with the IBF so he’s a potential contender. So we’re evaluating a guy who could become a mandatory challenger as well.”

The Australian, undefeated in 19, has fought for up to 15 consecutive rounds with Joshua. He told Sky Sports: “I consider myself a technical fighter. I like to be kind and lively. I’m pretty quick and explosive for a heavyweight. These are really my strengths. I like to show my speed.”

Viktor Jurk

“Bernd Boente [the former manager of Wladimir Klitschko] Sent me a phenomenal gem, ”Ghansa said.

” He is 21 years old. He is incredible !

The German Jurk is an amateur who is waiting for the chance to become a pro.

“Everyone loves his character and his boxing ability. He’s a kid who can do anything and everything, even if he’s still growing up.

“He’s got a baby face but 6’9”!

“He’s light and powerful and strong. He’s so confident and is doing really well. He’s one to watch, he’s going to be amazing.”

Vartan Aroutyunian

“Oddly enough, I just saw a kid breaking tampons on Instagram! He was like little Mike Tyson,” Ghansa said. “Then someone else mentioned his name.

“We dissect the attributes of the fighters. We are not looking for the complete fighter.

“We wanted strength. Vartan is a power even though he’s only 6’2”.

“Its power is phenomenal.

Milun Marko

“He’s definitely very good,” Ghansa said. “He recently fought Frazer Clarke in amateurs, which Frazer won.

“So Rob McCracken [Joshua’s trainer and the Team GB Olympic coach] obviously saw Marko up close.

“He was coming to train with Alen Babic. I said, ‘We would like to bring you here for two weeks.’ He stayed for five weeks.

“He’s a switch hitter – he’s a southpaw who can change that and apply orthodoxy as well.”

Thomas carty

“A great guy, very good. He’s Irish so you know he’s a warrior,” Ghansa said.

“He came and made a real change and gave this job to Anthony.

“People have to tune in to Carty – he’s going to explode, he’s going to cause trouble for these guys, and his chance will come.”

Carty told Sky Sports he was a left-handed heavyweight: “It’s a tactical advantage, but only if used correctly. I don’t have an extra arm or leg. But I see the benefits. So many Orthodox guys only boxed Orthodox fighters. “

Shokran Parwani

“Nobody wants to fight him. He’s a man of various styles and he’s a complete professional who trains really hard,” said Ghansa.

“He’s a cruiserweight who was in Derek Chisora ​​and Lawrence Okolie’s camps as a training partner.”

Parwani explained to Sky Sports how he was able to emulate Usyk: “I have a bit of the same style. I work more with my feet. I’m a skillful guy with a lot of movement. Usyk is also a skillful guy, he is not a puncher. “

Denis latypov

The Russian-born heavyweight represented his adopted nation Bahrain at Tokyo 2020. He trained with Joshua before and after the Olympics.

The “nightmare” to find sparring partners!

The job description went from 6’9 ” colossi to left-handed tricksters overnight. The logistics “nightmare” made it even more difficult to find Joshua’s sparring partners.

Joshua was initially preparing to fight Tyson Fury before attention turned to Usyk.

“It was really tough,” Ghansa told Sky Sports. “Look at the top 10 of each governing body, there are hardly any lefties. In the top 20, there are one or two and they don’t have all of what we need.

“Charles Martin has fought AJ before. Otto Wallin we contacted but, due to travel restrictions, we were unable to bring him in.

“Lenroy Thomas and Mike Perez couldn’t come due to injuries.

“It has been a nightmare to find the right guys and bring them into the country.

“Now AJ is getting the best job he can get. It’s been a mix of guys with experience.

“Derek Chisora ​​and Tony Bellew [Usyk’s former opponents] told the training partners what to do. We spoke to Chisora ​​and Bellew and no matter what people might think Usyk can hit. “

Sky Sports Boxe schedule

September 25 – Sky Sports ticket office
Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk – IBF, WBA, WBO heavyweight titles
Lawrence Okolie vs Dilan Prasovic – WBO cruiserweight title

October 2
Chris Eubank Jr vs. Sven Elbir
David Avanesyan vs Liam Taylor – European Welterweight Title
Richard Riakpohre vs. Krzysztof Twardowski
Mikael Lawal vs. Steven Ward

October 16
Savannah Marshall vs. Lolita Muzeya – WBO Middleweight Title
Hughie Fury vs. Christian Hammer

24 october
Jamel Herring vs. Shakur Stevenson – WBO Super Featherweight Title

November 6
BOXXER tournament

December 18
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall – undisputed welterweight title