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LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 21: Ben Davison, Head Trainer of Anthony Joshua speaks to the media during a post fight press conference after the IBF World Heavyweight Title fight between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua, on the Riyadh Season – Wembley Edition card at Wembley Stadium on September 21, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Anthony Joshua has a new face in his corner during his fight with “The Problem Child,” Jake Paul.
The two-time heavyweight champion confirmed that he no longer trains under Ben Davison, but instead was prepared by members of heavyweight great Oleksandr Usyk’s team.
Anthony Joshua (28-4, 24 KOs) is fighting Jake Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) in a professional eight-round heavyweight bout on Friday, Dec. 19 at Miami’s Kaseya Center, with the fight streaming on Netflix.
It makes for one of the wildest matchups in recent years as Paul, the 28-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer, looks to embarrass one of the great heavyweight champions in recent years.
The 36-year-old Joshua has been sidelined since a fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024 and underwent elbow surgery earlier this year.
GettyMIAMI, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 17: (L-R) Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua face off during the press conference at The Fillmore Miami Beach on December 17, 2025 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)
Anthony Joshua Parted Ways From Ben Davison
At a pre-fight news conference in late November, Joshua said he trained in Spain at the base of heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in preparation for the bout with Paul, instead of working with Davison in the UK.
Joshua has partnered with Davison — a former coach of Tyson Fury — since the lead-up to his 2023 fight against Otto Wallin.
“I won’t be trained by Ben Davison, I said that London’s a bit distracting for me so I was invited to train with team Usyk. I’ve been in Spain, we’ve been doing some good training,” Joshua said. He added it’s been a “couple months” since he switched trainers.
“He’s [Usyk] one of the best in the world. It’s not just down to him, it’s down to his team that’s around him. I linked up with them, getting an insight into how someone has achieved so much.
“It’s been phenomenal man. It’s been a great experience and it’s very challenging.”
Joshua said he has not sparred with 38-year-old Usyk but confirmed the Ukrainian champion has been in and out of camp over the past two months.
Joshua previously faced Usyk twice, losing by decision in both 2021 and 2022.
Who Will Be Training Anthony Joshua?
Against Paul, Joshua’s corner will be led by Iegor Golub, an amateur teammate of Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko who is best known for training Denys Berinchyk, a former WBO lightweight champion from Ukraine’s celebrated 2012 Olympic team.
Golub will be part of a broader, collaborative setup, according to Usyk camp manager Serhii Lapin.
“It’s not one person. It’s a team — a head coach, an assistant, and several strong specialists. A structured system where each is responsible for their part,” Lapin told Ready to Fight.
Joining Golub in Joshua’s corner on fight night will be strength and conditioning coach Jakub Chycki and veteran cutman Russ Abner. Usyk will not be in attendance.
When asked by ESPN whether Usyk would ever corner Joshua, Lapin said, “For championship fights, I think yes.”
Golub will become the fifth head coach to work Joshua’s corner in the 33rd bout of his professional career. Joshua was coached by Rob McCracken from his amateur days through both of his heavyweight title reigns.
Following his shock loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019, Joshua added assistant coaches Angel Fernandez and Joby Clayton to his team. After his September 2021 defeat to Usyk, he brought in Robert Garcia. In 2023, Joshua trained under Derrick James before later linking up with Davison after Saudi Arabia’s dramatic entry into the boxing scene.
Drake Bentley is an award-winning investigative journalist and breaking news reporter for Heavy, covering football, basketball, legal affairs and entertainment. Drake has covered sports, including the NBA Finals, NFL Draft, and major trending stories, since 2019. More about Drake Bentley
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