Anthony Joshua has made a return to the boxing gym almost three weeks following a tragic car accident in Nigeria. The former two-time heavyweight champion was a passenger in a Lexus SUV that crashed into a stationary truck on a major expressway near Lagos, resulting in the loss of his close friends and teammates, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Their funerals were held in London on January 4.
While Joshua sustained minor injuries in the accident, he has been seen back at the gym, engaging in what he referred to as “mental strength therapy.” Videos shared by Joshua on Snapchat show him working out, hitting pads, performing lower leg exercises, and cycling on a stationary bike. He also shared footage of himself in a pool.
Despite reports that Joshua’s uncle mentioned the boxer would retire post the crash, there is no official confirmation from Joshua regarding his future in the sport. The driver involved in the accident has been charged with various offenses related to the crash, as Joshua narrowly escaped a potentially fatal outcome after switching seats with the driver before the collision.
Promoter Eddie Hearn stated in an interview that there have been no discussions about Joshua’s boxing future, emphasizing the need for Joshua to have time to recover emotionally and mentally from the traumatic incident. Hearn expressed confidence that Joshua will make his decision about returning to boxing when the time is right, highlighting the support and prayers extended to Joshua and the families affected by the accident.