Anthony Joshua has returned to the gym for what he calls “mental strength therapy,” just weeks after a devastating car crash in Nigeria claimed the lives of two of his close friends.
The British boxing star was a passenger in a Lexus SUV that collided with a stationary truck on the Lagos–Ibadan highway on December 29. Tragically, his backroom team members, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, died in the accident, while Joshua sustained minor injuries.
Despite concerns that he might step away from the sport, Joshua shared footage on Instagram of himself hitting pads with a trainer, captioning it, “Mental Strength Therapy.” His promoter, Eddie Hearn, reassured fans that the 36-year-old will take all the time he needs to recover emotionally, mentally, and spiritually before deciding on his boxing future.
“This is very different from anything AJ has faced in boxing,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “He’ll need time, but I believe he will want to return when the moment is right.”
The crash occurred during Joshua’s holiday in Nigeria following his December 19 victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami. Before the accident, there was talk of a long-awaited fight between Joshua and former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, but Hearn confirmed that such discussions are on hold until Joshua is ready.
The boxing community and fans worldwide have expressed their support, as Joshua begins the difficult process of coping with this personal tragedy while slowly returning to training.
