British-Nigerian heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua returns to gym training weeks after surviving a tragic car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close members of his team.
The former world heavyweight champion, 36, sustained minor injuries in the crash, which occurred on December 29 near Lagos. The accident involved a collision between their vehicle and a stationary truck on a major highway.
Two of Joshua’s associates, his strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, and trainer Latif “Latz” Ayodele, died at the scene.
Nineteen days after the incident, Joshua shared a video on Snapchat showing him back in the gym, working on pads. He captioned the clip “mental strength therapy,” signaling his gradual return to physical activity following the tragedy.
Joshua had fought YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on December 19, just days before travelling to Nigeria for the holiday period.
Last week, the boxer paid tribute to Ghami and Ayodele in an emotional Instagram post, describing them as extraordinary individuals whose value he only fully realised after their passing.
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“I didn’t even know how special they were,” Joshua wrote. “We would walk together, laugh and joke, not knowing God had placed me in the company of great men.”
He added that while the loss has been deeply painful for him, it is even more devastating for the families of the deceased.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, said the boxer would only return to competitive boxing when he feels fully ready.
Speaking to Sky Sports on Wednesday, Hearn said Joshua needs time to recover “physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually” before making any decisions about his career.
“I do believe he will want to come back to boxing, but that decision will come when the time is right,” Hearn said, adding that his current focus is solely on Joshua’s wellbeing.
“What he went through is not normal. It’s heartbreaking,” Hearn noted. “When he’s ready, he’ll speak for himself, and that’s the only voice people should listen to.”
