The future of British heavyweight boxing star Anthony Joshua remains shrouded in uncertainty following a devastating car crash in Nigeria last month that claimed the lives of two of his close friends.
A Tragic Incident and a Heavy Heart
Last month, Joshua was a passenger in a Lexus SUV that collided with a stationary truck on a major expressway near Lagos. The tragic accident resulted in the deaths of the boxer's friends and teammates, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Their funerals were held at a mosque in London earlier this month.
The fatal crash occurred just days after Joshua's return to the ring, where he secured a sixth-round knockout victory over YouTube sensation Jake Paul in December. Following that bout, Joshua had travelled to Nigeria for a holiday and to visit family.
Hearn's Candid Update: Time and Space to Heal
In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, offered a sobering assessment of his client's state of mind. When questioned about Joshua's next steps, Hearn emphasised the need for patience and recovery.
"Yeah, I do [expect him to take time away]," Hearn stated. "That's not a conversation that I think anyone's comfortable in having... You need someone to have their time and to just be left alone, really, to get over, not just a terrible incident, but just one that you can never prepare for in life."
Hearn described the situation as "heartbreaking" and insisted that any decision about Joshua's career will come directly from the fighter himself. "The future of Anthony Joshua will be told by Anthony Joshua. And that's the only voice you should listen to," he affirmed, adding that the priority is allowing Joshua to heal "physically and mentally, emotionally, spiritually."
Retirement Rumours and a Blockbuster Fight in Limbo
The cloud over Joshua's career intensified last week when reports from Nigeria quoted his uncle, Adedamola Joshua, as saying the boxer had told family he intended to retire. "The major thing there is that he has retired from boxing," his uncle told The Punch. However, Mirror Fighting understands that Joshua has not yet provided any official update on his fighting future.
This personal tragedy has also cast doubt on one of the most anticipated fights in British boxing. Prior to the crash, it was reported that Joshua and rival Tyson Fury had agreed to a historic showdown in 2026, contingent on both winning tune-up fights. Fury's promoter, Frank Warren, has now expressed uncertainty about the bout materialising.
Speaking to The Mirror, Warren said: "Well, boxing will certainly be the last thing on his mind, right now... I don't know the extent of his injuries, but it's also how mentally this will affect him." Warren noted that tragedy affects people differently, sometimes requiring a major focus to recover, but conceded that a ring return is not currently Joshua's priority.
For now, the boxing world waits as Anthony Joshua, a champion facing an unimaginable personal loss, takes the time he needs to grieve and contemplate his path forward.
