Anthony Joshua pictured coaching after deadly automotive crash in ‘psychological energy remedy’
Anthony Joshua is back in training after the fatal car crash that killed two of his close friends and team members, with the status of his anticipated fight with Tyson Fury still unclear
(Image: ajboxing/Snapchat)
Anthony Joshua is back in training after the horror car crash that killed two of his close friends and team members.
The two-time world heavyweight champion narrowly avoided death in the incident in Nigeria on December 29, but Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele died when their vehicle smashed into a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos. He suffered minor injuries after changing seats before the vehicle set off and his uncle Adedamola Joshua later claimed the 36-year-old had informed his family of his decision to hang up his gloves.
Despite those impending retirement claims, Joshua is yet to make his decision on his career public and is reportedly still considering his future. And it remains unclear whether he will face British rival Tyson Fury in a long-awaited £100m mega fight later this year as originally planned.
Now, 19 days after the crash, the Watford fighter has shared a video on Snapchat of him hitting pads, working out and swimming, with the heartfelt message: “Mental strength therapy”.
Other posts included a picture of what appeared to be the elapsed time he had been on a cardio machine with the caption: “I am a fighter.”
Joshua triumphed over YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul when he knocked out the American in Florida last month, 10 days before the nightmare accident while on holiday in Nigeria, where he has relatives.
Last week he posted a tribute to his strength and conditioning coach Ghami and trainer Ayodele on Instagram. He wrote: “I didn’t even realise how special they are.
“I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. 100% it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents.”
His promoter, Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn believes his man will return to boxing “when the time is right”. He told Sky Sports on Wednesday: “He will need his time physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually before he makes a decision on his future.
“I do think he will want to return to boxing, but that will be his decision when the time is right. It is certainly not a conversation I’ll be having with him any time soon.
“The only conversation is ‘are you okay?’ and sometimes we find people will give that facade of being okay, but what happened to him is not normal and heartbreaking for all involved.
“When the time is right, I believe he will make his decision and you will hear it from him. That is the only voice you should listen to in that respect and we’ll give him his time to make that decision and heal.”
