Bernd Bonte is a believer in Anthony Joshua.
The famously scrupulous German handler of Ukrainian brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, the two top heavyweights of the aughts, insisted that Joshua is bound to have a resurgent second chapter of his career.
Joshua is coming off two straight points losses to Oleksandr Usyk, the WBO, WBA, IBF, IBO champion from Ukraine. Their rematch, held last August in Saudi Arabia, saw Joshua lose by 12-round split decision.
Now, Joshua is attempting to regain his footing atop the heavyweight food chain by taking on Michigan’s Jermaine Franklin this Saturday at the O2 Arena in London. And he will do so under the guidance of new trainer Derrick James, the Dallas, Texas-based veteran best known for his work with Errol Spence Jr. and Jermell Charlo.
Bonte thinks Joshua’s current juncture in his career bears some similarity to the time that Wladimir Klitschko was looking to rebound from a disastrous loss.
In 2003, Klitschko was stopped by Corrie Sanders in the second round, a loss that shook the Ukrainian’s confidence in his chin. Thereafter, Bonte sought out the late Emmanuel Steward, the legendary trainer of the Kronk Boxing Gym, to help resurrect Klitschko’s career. The tandem worked. Albeit their partnership got off to a rocky start—in their first fight together, Klitschko suffered a stoppage loss to Lamon Brewster—Klitschko would go on to mount one of the longest title defenses in heavyweight history. He would not lose for another decade, until 2015, when Tyson Fury upset him on points.
Bonte believes James could help produce a similar revival for Joshua.
“[Joshua] needs some time with his new coach, like Wladimir did with Manny,” Bonte told iFL TV. “Need two, three fights and then you’re on top. And then believe me, he will have the same longtime unbeaten [streak] as Wladimir. I feel it, I know it.”