Robert Garcia, a respected boxing trainer, has warned against Wladimir Klitschko's potential return to professional boxing. The former IBF super-featherweight champion voiced his concerns about the safety of the heavyweight legend if he decides to make a comeback.
Garcia, who's trained top fighters like Nonito Donaire, Marcos Maidana, and Anthony Joshua, shared his thoughts in a recent interview with FightHubTV. He said:
"For me, I wouldn't want to see that. He could be against a young hungry fighter that might hurt him. If it's something like Tyson did then I'd be up for it if it's an exhibition but if it's a real fighter against somebody young, age doesn't – it's tough man, it's tough."
The 49-year-old trainer's worries come in response to rumors swirling about Klitschko's potential return to the ring. There's talk of the former heavyweight champ getting a shot at the IBF belt if Daniel Dubois successfully defends his title against Joseph Parker on February 22 in Saudi Arabia.
Another possibility making waves is a rematch with Tyson Fury. Turki Alalshikh of Riyadh Season has shown keen interest in making this fight happen, but it hinges on Fury beating Oleksandr Usyk in their upcoming bout this weekend.
Garcia's concern stems from the age gap between Klitschko and today's top heavyweights. He believes an exhibition match, similar to what Mike Tyson has done, would be a safer option for the Ukrainian boxer.
The trainer's cautionary advice carries weight given his extensive experience in the sport. Garcia has worked with some of boxing's biggest names and understands the risks involved in returning to professional fighting after a long layoff.
Garcia's most recent high-profile work was with Anthony Joshua for his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk in 2022. Despite their efforts, Joshua lost the fight and failed to regain his unified world titles. The pair parted ways after the bout.
As the boxing world waits to see if Klitschko will indeed make a comeback, Garcia's words serve as a reminder of the potential dangers involved in such a decision. The coming weeks, with major fights on the horizon, may provide more clarity on what's next for the heavyweight division and whether we'll see Klitschko in the ring again.
