Eddie Hearn has called for privacy for Anthony Joshua following the tragic car accident that killed two of his close friends and coaches in Nigeria last December. Joshua was travelling in a Jeep that struck a stationary lorry near Lagos, resulting in the deaths of Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Joshua escaped with minor injuries and is now preparing for a return to the ring.
Speaking at a pre-fight press conference, Hearn revealed the extent of Joshua's physical and emotional struggles after the accident. 'You’re talking about six months where he was involved in a tragic accident. Physically, he was seriously damaged in that accident,' Hearn said. 'Mentally and emotionally, you can only imagine what was going through his mind.'
Hearn admitted he was unsure if Joshua would ever box again. 'I didn’t know physically if he would ever return to boxing. Mentally is a different thing,' he said. Joshua underwent three months of rehabilitation before entering training camp, focusing on basic movements and cycling.
Joshua is scheduled to fight Kristian Prenga on July 25, a bout seen as a prelude to a potential clash with Tyson Fury later this year. Hearn believes Joshua is now more dangerous than ever, driven by the desire to honour his fallen friends. 'He’s more dangerous than he’s been before,' Hearn added.
Joshua himself remained understated, expressing gratitude for the purpose boxing provides. 'You have to put a road map in front of a fighter and show them what is point one, point two, point three. It gives purpose and focus,' he said. 'Give me the opportunity to fight Prenga, give me the opportunity to fight Fury, give me the opportunity to fight for the championship.'
