Anthony Joshua has candidly discussed how he continues to cope with the tragic deaths of his friends Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, six months after surviving a car crash that claimed their lives. The former world heavyweight champion was a passenger in a motorway accident in Nigeria in December, alongside Ghami and Ayodele. Joshua sustained injuries, while his teammates were killed, just ten days after he had defeated YouTuber Jake Paul in a fight in Miami.
Joshua quickly returned to training, and in April, it was announced that he would face Kristian Prenga on 25 July in Saudi Arabia, serving as a warm-up for a highly anticipated clash with Tyson Fury later in the year.
Focus on the Parents
Speaking at a press conference in London on Monday, Joshua addressed the media, including The Independent, about the aftermath of the crash. He explained his approach to dealing with the loss: “Everyone’s different. For me, I have to put my emotion to the side, because I’m focused on the parents if I’m honest. My emotions can come at a later stage, but I really look at their parents and understand that it must be most difficult for them. So, I don’t make it about me; I make it about them. I make it about the mums and the dads of the two boys.”
He acknowledged that burying emotions might not work for everyone, but for him, it is the best strategy. “It’s not about me, it’s bigger than me. All of the boys, there’s a few of us that knew Latz, knew Sina. It’s love. It’s good to see from my perspective, it’s really good to see.”
Dedication and Purpose
Joshua suggested that his dedication to boxing has not necessarily increased in honour of his friends, but it has taken on a different significance. “I’ve always been dedicated, definitely. It’s not about being ‘more’; it’s different, it’s definitely different. But I’m just there for their parents. That’s – for me – number one: being a good soldier for them. Got to look after the boys’ parents.”
The 36-year-old also dismissed the idea of retiring after the crash, stating: “No, because this is my purpose. Boxing is not only good for the competitive side of things; it’s quite therapeutic. It gives us purpose. Us fighters have got purpose. That’s what it does for me, and I think this is a place where I am most comfortable. It gives me a purpose in my life, so yeah, I’m content being here with you guys. This is where I’m most comfortable.”
He revealed that he felt ready to fight about two months ago, having ramped up his training. When asked if “ready” referred to physical or mental state, Joshua replied: “Physically. Mentally [I feel] very strong, mentally very strong. Physically just got to get yourself back to basically sparring, if I’m honest. Obviously there’s going to be really tough nights, but I have to go through these tough nights to get the job done.”
Upcoming Fights
The date for Joshua’s bout with Tyson Fury, 37, is not yet confirmed, but it could take place at London’s Wembley Stadium in October or November. Fury last fought in April, outpointing Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Joshua watching from ringside. Fury has since expressed interest in taking a warm-up fight of his own, possibly in Dublin on 1 April.
