Former Anthony Joshua coach talks corner tactics

IT’S a process as old as the noble art itself. A fighter loses in a high-profile clash and barely seconds after he has been scraped along the canvas, brushed off and brought back to reality, the spindly fingers of judgement have already started pointing.

In the fights leading up to Anthony Joshua’s crushing fifth-round KO loss to Daniel Dubois, the former unified champion appeared as calm and composed as ever while dismissing a bunch of lesser foes. Adopting a stripped-down, back-to-basics nature, mixed in with some analytical work, praise for the corner team’s fresh approach rang loud and wide. 

That was until AJ faced the most adversity since he lost to Oleksandr Usyk for a second time, in Jeddah, 2022. Suddenly, the next big thing wasn’t so shiny. As Ben Davison now tucks up and attempts to roll with the critics’ combinations, Joshua’s former trainer, Tony Sims, knows all too well the highs and lows of the hurt game and empathises with Ben’s plight.

“I think Ben’s a great young trainer and he’s a good guy as well. And if you look before that fight, everyone was saying Ben was a great trainer and the best trainer Joshua’s had and blah, blah, blah. So that’s what it’s like with the win,” Sims told Boxing News.

“You’ve got to take the losses with the wins. With the wins, everyone’s pumping you up. And then with the losses, everyone puts you down. So as a trainer, you’ve just got to be able to take that criticism. At the end of the day, whatever you tell your fighter or whatever you’re instructing him, it’s him that goes out and has to do it.”

As Sims went on to explain, the role of the cornerman ends where the ropes meet the ring and only two boxers and an official remain standing. Coaches can’t get in there and throw the punches or move their heads for the fighter, so Davison can come back stronger from this setback, even after his infamous “roll the dice” discussion.

“I think Ben’s got a great future in front of him as a trainer and people are always going to criticise you on your defeats,” Sims added.

As quickly as Ben Davison disappeared for a period of introspection, in the opposite corner stood Dubois’ head coach, Don Charles. A long-time trainer of heavyweights, Don fought off a fight week cold and some nefarious rumours to not only reach the corner but also guide Daniel to the greatest night of their respective careers.

“I was really pleased for Don,” said Sims. “Funny enough, I messaged him the other day. He’s been in the game as long as I have and to see him have success late in his career like that, because I know what training is put into this sport, which other people don’t see. They put long hours in, away from their families. I was really, really pleased for him the other day.

“I mean, he’s a really nice guy and a good guy as well and he deserves all the credit he gets.”