Anthony Joshua’s trainer, Ben Davison, found himself under the spotlight after the heavyweight’s loss to Daniel Dubois in Wembley Stadium.
Davison linked up with Joshua in 2023 for his corner stoppage win over Otto Wallin and has guided him ever since.
This team change followed two years where AJ had the likes of Derrick James and Robert Garcia in his corner.
The 28-year-old coach was praised for getting the Brit back to his best after the Wallin and Francis Ngannou victories.
Although a fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois put the star trainer’s instructions to AJ under scrutiny.
Ben Davison responded to Anthony Joshua’s ‘roll the dice’ advice
One such comment, which fans and pundits picked up on, was his phrase ‘roll the dice’, which was interpreted as asking the 35-year-old to take a risk.
However, the former Tyson Fury trainer explained this wasn’t the case.
Speaking to TalkSport, he said: “Roll the dice is something that he worked on in camp, double jab bring it up the middle.”
“We’ve asked AJ to throw a double jab and bring it up the middle. Daniel was defending AJ’s right hand by ducking underneath it.
“Therefore, if he is ducking underneath your right hand, the correct adjustment is to let him dip onto the right uppercut.”
Criticism of the corner work stemmed from former ‘Dynamite’ Dubois coach Shane McGuigan.
McGuigan, commentating on Radio 5 Live for the fight, said asking for the uppercut was ‘dangerous’ as the former unified champion would walk into a right hand.
It was in the following round where Joshua was floored for a final time by a lethal orthodox backhand.
Is Davison the most successful Joshua trainer after Rob McCracken?
The Watford fighter found all of his world title success with longtime trainer Rob McCracken.
Not only did he help make him into a unified champion, but he also helped him pick up an Olympic gold medal.
But after the first Oleksandr Usyk loss, McCracken was dropped in favour of Garcia for the rematch.
| Ben Davison | Robert Garcia | Derrick James |
| Wallin R5 RTD Win | Usyk SD Loss | Franklin UD Win |
| Ngannou R2 KO Win | Helenius R7 KO Win | |
| Dubois R5 KO Loss |
Another defeat ended their partnership, and he was replaced with James, who cornered the boxer for two wins.
Triumphs over Jermaine Franklin by decision and Robert Helenius by knockout gave him much-needed activity.
But since his Wallin win, he has switched over completely to the British instructor.
While both wins ended inside the distance for the Olympian, the Ngannou KO is not as impressive since it was his second professional fight.
It is difficult to judge who has done the better job, but the fact Joshua has stuck with Davison despite a loss speaks volumes.
Fans are awaiting his return, which is rumoured to take place at the end of the year after recovery from injury.