Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has taken a significant step in his recovery by returning to the gym, following a tragic car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close companions.
The Tragic Incident in Nigeria
The serious collision occurred on December 29, 2025, while Joshua was on holiday in Nigeria. The former champion sustained injuries in the crash, but tragically, his friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele were killed. Ghami served as Joshua's strength and conditioning coach, while Ayodele was a trainer. Joshua had been in the country following his victory over Jake Paul in Miami just ten days prior to the devastating event.
Road to Recovery and Mental Strength
Joshua recently posted a video on Snapchat documenting his return to physical activity. The footage showed him engaging in a workout, hitting pads, exercising, and using a stationary bike. Notably, one of the clips was overlaid with the slogan “mental strength therapy”, highlighting the psychological aspect of his healing process alongside the physical.
Future in Boxing Remains a Personal Decision
Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has spoken about the boxer's road ahead. In an interview with Sky Sports on Wednesday, Hearn emphasised that Joshua needs time to heal on every level before any decisions about his career are made.
“He will need his time physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually before he makes a decision on his future,” Hearn stated. “I do think he will want to return to boxing, but that will be his decision when the time is right.”
Hearn made it clear that the immediate focus is on Joshua's wellbeing, not his professional plans. “It is certainly not a conversation I’ll be having with him any time soon. The only conversation is ‘are you OK?’” he said, acknowledging the profound impact of the loss. He concluded that the boxing world should wait to hear directly from Joshua himself when he is ready.
The Watford-born fighter, who has Nigerian heritage, now faces a period of recuperation where his future in the ring will be a deeply personal consideration.
