Robert Garcia, ANTHONY JOSHUA’S trainer, claims that his fighter "defeated" himself during round ten of Oleksandr Usyk's rematch.
AJ, 32, had success in round nine - Usyk was stinging as he launched blow after bomb.
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Anthony Joshua for the second time
Robert Garcia, AJ's trainer, shared his thoughts about the fight
The Ukrainian came back to win in the next stanza. He regained control and didn't look back.
Garcia, 47, thinks Joshua could have won, but Usyk's surge at round ten changed everything.
IZQUIERDAZO was informed by the American that he said, "During the ninth round, in [we] the corner, we] were telling ourselves that we had the fight."
"Oleksandr Usyk came back stronger.
"I have even thought that Joshua was mentally defeated by me in the last few days.
"Joshua was mentally defeated from round ten or eleven." Usyk was very proud of round ten.
"That was the turning point in our fight and we were defeated mentally."
Garcia hoped that his man would produce a late knockout but it was not to be.
He said: "At this point, we were depending on a good shot, or something similar, because Anthony punches hard and one shot can make a difference in a fight.
"That's what we wanted, one shot. He was dominating at that point."
AJ was pictured poolside playing chess with JC Elite for the first time since Friday's defeat.
Joshua's friend captioned the photo: "Rest and recover, regroup, then we move and do it again."
While AJ is resting, Usyk will continue to a mouthwatering unification fight with WBC champion Tyson Fury.
The Gypsy King will inform the WBC that he is not retiring and that there is no need for him to vacate his belt.
He has asked for PS500m to defeat Usyk, the Ukrainian hero.
AJ plans his next move
