Anthony Joshua has made a return to the boxing gym almost three weeks after a tragic car accident in Nigeria. The former two-time heavyweight champion was a passenger in a Lexus SUV that collided with a stationary truck near Lagos, resulting in the unfortunate deaths of two of his close friends and teammates, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Their funerals were held in London on January 4.
Joshua, who was in Nigeria for a holiday and family visit, sustained minor injuries in the accident after recently defeating Jake Paul. Following a few days of hospital treatment, he was discharged on New Year’s Eve, sparking speculation about his future in the ring.
Despite the uncertainties, Joshua has shared images on Snapchat showcasing his return to training as a form of “mental strength therapy.” He can be seen working out, hitting pads, engaging in lower leg exercises, cycling on a stationary bike, and swimming. Additional posts featured snapshots of his cardio machine time and a throwback photo of a match against Wladimir Klitschko.
Reports emerged on January 6 that Joshua’s uncle stated the boxer had communicated his retirement decision to the family post the accident. However, Mirror Fighting understands that Joshua has yet to finalize his future plans regarding boxing.
The driver involved in the crash with Joshua, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, has been charged by the Ogun State Police Command for causing death by dangerous driving among other charges. It was revealed that Joshua narrowly escaped the accident after initially sitting in the front seat but later moving to the back as directed by the driver.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, emphasized that there are no ongoing discussions about Joshua’s boxing career at the moment. He expressed the need for Joshua to have time to recover emotionally and physically before making any decisions about returning to the ring. Hearn emphasized that Joshua’s voice will be the ultimate decider of his future in boxing.
As Joshua takes his time to heal and reflect, the boxing community continues to support him and await his decision with understanding and empathy for the challenges he faces.