Anthony Joshua says he is still struggling to come to terms with the deaths of two close friends and members of his team as he prepares to return to the ring for the first time since the tragic incident.
Joshua’s sport and exercise rehabilitation coach, Sina Ghami, and his long-time friend and personal trainer, Latif “Latz” Ayodele, lost their lives on December 29, 2026, when the vehicle they were travelling in with the British-Nigerian heavyweight and another passenger crashed into a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos, Nigeria. Joshua escaped with minor injuries.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight bout against Kristian Prenga, Joshua admitted he is not yet emotionally prepared to fully process the loss.
“It’s tough. Every time I think about it, it hurts,” he told BBC Sport.
“Even talking about it now, seeing pictures, it hurts. I just try to keep myself occupied. If I stop and let it all sink in, I’m not ready for that yet.”
Ghami had served as Joshua’s full-time rehabilitation coach for more than a decade, while Ayodele had been one of his closest friends and fitness trainers. Just hours before the fatal crash, Joshua shared a video on Instagram showing the pair playing table tennis together.
The fight against Prenga marks Joshua’s first competitive appearance since suffering a knockout defeat to IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024. It also comes after he knocked out American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul just 10 days before the fatal accident.
Despite acknowledging some pre-fight nerves, the former world champion said he remains focused on delivering a performance worthy of his late teammates.
“It’s competition at the highest level,” Joshua said. “I want to perform for my team, make them proud, and make myself proud. There’s always a balance of nerves, but I understand my job and I have clarity on what I need to do.”
