Leigh Wood reveals Anthony Joshua still has the same focus and mentality
Former WBA World featherweight champion, Leigh Wood, told Boxing News all about his new teammate, Anthony Joshua, and rated his chances against Swedish southpaw, Otto Wallin, on December 23.
The Nottingham man lifted the lid on his new colleague who tackles yet another southpaw, after back to back losses to Oleksandr Usyk. AJ has bounced back with two wins since, but his next opponent, Wallin, 33 from Sweden, gave Tyson Fury one of the toughest nights of his career when they fought in 2019, which remains his only professional defeat.
“I’ve seen him in the gym quite a lot,” Wood began. “[He’s] just a down-to-earth, humble guy. He’s always got time for people. I feel like he’s still got that same focus and mentality.”
34-year-old AJ is training with Ben Davison, who was in the corner for Tyson Fury when he fought Wallin in 2019. Despite training under Derrick James in Texas for his two fights this year, which includes a points win over Jermain Franklin and a knockout of Robert Helenius, Joshua has teamed up with Davison for his Saudi Arabia fight to stay local.
“The approach he’s got with Ben, he’s like a sponge – he’s absorbing all the information”, Wood continued. “A lot of people look at it and think, ‘He’s training with Ben, is he mad?’ But like I’ve said, Ben [is] way ahead. I’ve said this many times, and people can quote me, because I know in 10 years’ time they’ll be like: ‘Leigh Wood told us.’ I didn’t have to tell you. Look at my fights I’ve had; I’ve been underdog time and time again, [but] I’m getting these results. Is it because I’m superhuman, or is it because I’ve got a mint team? Do the maths.
“I can see a lot of similarities between AJ and myself in the way he’s learning. He’s always asking questions and wants to know how it works. Sometimes you’re trying to learn something and it doesn’t click straight away, then it’s a good feeling when you get it.
“He’s on the right path, and I can’t wait for his fight in December,” said 35-year-old Wood. “I think you will see AJ be more clear and decisive with what he’s doing in there, because I feel like he’ll know what he needs to do – whereas in previous fights, he’s [seemed] a bit apprehensive. [It’s like he’s] thinking, ‘It don’t feel right,’ or half-guessing and not confident in what he’s doing but just doing it anyway.
“I know for this fight he will be clear and decisive, knowing what he needs to do and going out and doing it. A lot of people will say, ‘AJ’s looking more like his old self,’ and that will be because of these things he’s doing [with Davison]. Without a shadow of a doubt, it’s an AJ knockout [against Wallin].”
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