Joshua promotes coach Fernandez to 'head trainer' for Usyk rematch 

Nigeria born British boxer Anthony Joshua has promoted assistant coach Angel Fernandez to the role of 'head trainer' as he aims to lure back his heavyweight titles from Oleksandr Usyk.

The Nigeria-born star, 32, lost his belts for the second time in four fights after he suffered defeat to Ukrainian Usyk last September at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Joshua faced criticism for his approach in the loss six months ago, despite it only being his second defeat of his career.

After being urged to ditch his coaching team, he embarked on a search for a new trainer to potentially work alongside longtime coach Rob McCracken. 

'I'm working with Angel Fernandez right now,' he told Behind The Gloves. 'He's been in my camp for the last three years anyway.'

When asked if Fernandez was be the main coach, Joshua replied, 'Yeah, man'. 

His promoter and Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn previously admitted he thought it was time for 'AJ' to 'move on' from McCracken's Sheffield HQ.

'I feel it might be time to move on from that environment because when you've been there since you were 18 and you go into GB and Anthony Joshua is everywhere, he's a god,' he said.

'I just feel it's time to rough him up a little bit, not in log cabins in the middle of nowhere. 'But up there it's 'oh my God, it's AJ!' because they're proud of him. Rob is not necessarily gone.

'That's a conversation for those guys and it's very difficult because is more than just a trainer, he's a mentor to him, an advisor, a friend. It's not just about who's training him, it's about where that's going to take place.

Following the invasion in Ukraine, the rematch is under serious doubt given Usyk has picked up arms to join the fight against Russian forces