Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is taking time to recover and heal after being involved in a fatal car crash in Nigeria on December 29, which tragically killed two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele. Ghami served as Joshua's strength and conditioning coach, while Ayodele was a trainer. The incident occurred while Joshua, who was born in Watford to Nigerian parents, was on holiday in Nigeria, just ten days after his victory over Jake Paul in Miami.

His longtime promoter, Eddie Hearn, provided an update on Joshua's state of mind on January 18, 2026, sharing a photo of them together in a gym. Hearn's post on X stated, "Great to catch up with @anthonyjoshua today. His resilience and strength is inspiring. The loss is heavy and he will take his time to get back on track but said he is truly grateful for all the support and the love shown for Latz and Sina."

Despite the profound loss, Joshua has made a return to the gym this week, as evidenced by a video he posted on Snapchat showing him working out, hitting pads, exercising, and riding a stationary bike. Before the tragic event, Joshua's knockout victory over Jake Paul in December had reignited discussions about a potential fight with compatriot Tyson Fury, a highly anticipated bout in British boxing. However, the car crash has cast a shadow of uncertainty over Joshua's immediate future in the sport.

Hearn has previously expressed his belief that Joshua will return to boxing once he has had sufficient time to heal, stating that the fighter will need time "physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually before he makes a decision on his future." He emphasized that while he thinks Joshua will want to return, the decision will ultimately be his alone, when the time is right. Hearn clarified that conversations with Joshua at this time are focused solely on his well-being, acknowledging the facade people sometimes put up when dealing with such heartbreaking events. He concluded by asserting that Joshua's own voice will be the only one to listen to regarding his future, and he will be given the necessary time to heal and decide.