British heavyweight boxing star Anthony Joshua has no intention of hanging up his gloves, despite swirling rumours of his retirement following a horrific car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close friends.
Surviving a fatal collision
Anthony Joshua, 36, miraculously escaped serious injury in a devastating accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near Makun last week. The crash involved the black Lexus SUV he was travelling in and a stationary truck carrying soya beans. Tragically, Joshua's friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, were killed.
The driver of the SUV, 47-year-old Adeniyi Kayode, appeared before a magistrate in Sagamu on Friday. He faces multiple charges including dangerous driving causing death and driving without a licence. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison.
Retirement rumours firmly quashed
Speculation that the two-time world champion would retire was amplified by comments from a man named Adedamola Joshua, who was quoted in Nigerian newspaper PUNCH claiming the boxer had ended his career. "The major thing there is that he has retired from boxing," he stated.
However, Daily Mail Sport understands that Adedamola Joshua does not speak for or represent the boxer, and that Anthony Joshua himself has no plans to retire. The athlete's representatives declined to comment when contacted.
Emotional aftermath and future fights
Joshua, who most recently defeated YouTube star Jake Paul in December, has been dealing with the profound emotional impact of the crash. He recently attended the funerals of his friends and posted a poignant tribute on Instagram captioned "My Brothers Keeper", featuring a photo with his mother and a framed picture of Ghami.
The boxer returned to the UK last Friday, arriving at London Stansted Airport, and has been recuperating at his mansion. It remains unclear when he will be ready to return to the ring, casting some doubt on the long-awaited prospective bout against fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury, which had been anticipated for this year.
Reports reveal Joshua had a miraculous escape, having swapped from a front seat to the back of the SUV just hours after arriving in Nigeria, shortly before the fatal collision occurred.
