Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is taking time away from boxing to recover following a fatal car crash in Nigeria on December 29 that claimed the lives of two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele. Ghami was Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, while Ayodele served as a trainer. The incident occurred during Joshua’s holiday in Nigeria, just ten days after his high-profile victory over Jake Paul in Miami.

Joshua’s longtime promoter, Eddie Hearn, provided an update on January 18, 2026, sharing a photo of the pair together in a gym. In a post on X, Hearn described Joshua’s resilience as “inspiring,” adding that the loss remains heavy but that Joshua is deeply grateful for the support shown in memory of Ghami and Ayodele.\

Despite the tragedy, Joshua has cautiously returned to light training. He posted a short video on Snapchat showing him working on pads, exercising, and riding a stationary bike. The footage marked his first visible step back into routine since the crash.

Before the incident, Joshua’s knockout win over Jake Paul had reignited speculation about a long-awaited all-British showdown with Tyson Fury. However, the events in Nigeria have introduced uncertainty around his immediate boxing future.

Hearn has stressed that any return to the ring will come only after Joshua has had sufficient time to heal “physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.” He emphasized that discussions are currently focused solely on Joshua’s well-being, noting that the decision about his future will be made only by Joshua himself, in his own time.