Anthony Joshua Returns To Gym In UK After Fatal Nigeria Crash

Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has resumed gym training just weeks after surviving a car accident that claimed the lives of two close members of his team in Nigeria.

Joshua sustained minor injuries in the crash, which occurred on December 29 along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.

The accident involved a Lexus SUV conveying the boxer and his associates, which rammed into a stationary truck parked on the shoulder of the road.

Nineteen days after the crash, Joshua shared videos of himself back in the gym in UK, posting clips of sparring and strength training sessions on social media.

He captioned one of the videos, “mental strength therapy,” suggesting the workouts were part of his recovery process.

The 36-year-old was also seen engaging in spinning and swimming as part of his training routine.

The accident had sparked widespread concern about Joshua’s future in boxing, with speculation over whether he would return to the ring or not.

However, his promoter, Eddie Hearn, said the boxer would be given all the time he needed to recover physically and emotionally.

“This is very different to boxing-related challenges,” Hearn told Sky Sports.

“He will need his time physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually before he makes a decision on his future. I do think he will want to return to boxing, but that will be his decision when the time is right.”

The crash occurred while Joshua was holidaying in Nigeria following his victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.

Before the accident, talks had resurfaced about a potential bout between Joshua and former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who recently came out of retirement. Hearn, however, said such discussions were premature.

“That is not a conversation that anyone is comfortable having right now,” he said.

“When the time is right, he will make his decision, and it will come from him.”

LEADERSHIP recalls that two of Joshua’s associates, Kevin Latif Ayodele, his personal trainer, and Sina Ghami, his strength and conditioning coach, died at the scene.

The boxer received medical treatment in Nigeria before he was discharged and returned to the United Kingdom alongside the remains of his late colleagues. He later attended funeral prayers for Ayodele and Ghami at a mosque in London.