Anthony Joshua undergoes treatment on ribs as boxing legend continues rehab months after horror car crash
ANTHONY JOSHUA has undergone intensive treatment on his ribs as he continues physical therapy months after his horror car crash.
The heavyweight star, 36, was involved in a fatal smash in Nigeria on December 29 — just ten days after beating YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami.
AJ survived the wreck but the tragedy claimed the lives of two close friends, personal trainer Kevin “Latz” Ayodele and long-time therapist Sina Ghami.
Joshua has been in recovery ever since the ordeal and shared snaps of the painful-looking work being done on his ribs via Snapchat.
He captioned the post: “Rehabilitation protocol. When you go thru certain things, you realise that you are stronger than you think you are.”
Personal trainer “Latz” was a childhood friend of AJ’s while Ghami was his long-time recovery therapist.
Joshua was flown back to the UK days after the crash to attend the funerals of his fallen “brothers.”
After knocking out Paul, 29, in six rounds, AJ was scheduled to fight in March, until the crash left his boxing future in doubt.
Promoter Eddie Hearn believes the two-time heavyweight king will fight again to honour of his late pals.
A summer return is growing increasingly likely, with rival Tyson Fury, 37, also out of retirement for an April clash against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Hearn told Boxing Scene in February: “Originally, the plan with AJ was for him to fight in March and then fight Tyson Fury in August. That’s not happening.
“He’s not fighting Tyson Fury next. He’s going to come back I believe late summer, but physically he’s not yet in a position to return to camp.
“I’m planning, but he’s just resting and preparing. So for me I’m looking at options to get him back in the ring in July time.
“But we’ll only know if that’s a real possibility when he returns to camp, which will hopefully be in the next couple of weeks or a month.”
Anthony Joshua’s family make feelings clear on potential July boxing return as Brit continues recovery from tragic crash
ANTHONY JOSHUA’s family will “fully” support him if he chooses to return to the ring.
AJ’s fighting future has been up in the air since the fatal car crash which killed his two close friends and team members, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, in Nigeria last December.
Joshua, 36, miraculously escaped the horror smash with minor injuries by swapping seats moments before the ill-fated journey took place.
The former two-time unified heavyweight champion has yet to speak on his fighting future, although he has been training and spoken of plans to honour his late friends.
And according to his uncle Ademola, the entire Joshua family will throw their weight behind him should he choose to lace up his gloves again.
Ademola told Nigerian newspaper The Punch: “We are proud of him, very proud of him.
“The way we, the elderly, think is very different from theirs, but it is all at his discretion.
“He makes the full decision, and we have full respect for him, whatever he decides.
“Whatever he has decided within himself, we will support him fully.”
Watching his nephew – who last fought in December against Jake Paul – trade yet more blows with some of the hardest-hitting humans on the planet won’t be easy for Ademola.
He said: “Each time he’s knocked down, it is just like the heart is coming out of our chest.
“All these emotional feelings whenever he’s fighting, it’s too much trauma for us also.”
Ademola’s comments on AJ potentially fighting again come on the back of promoter Eddie Hearn revealing he’s tentatively targeting a July return for the Watford warrior.
He told Boxing Scene: “[He was] due to fight in March, then fight Tyson Fury in August.
“That’s not happening anymore. He won’t be fighting Tyson Fury next.
“He’s going to come back late summer but physically he’s not in a position to return to camp.
“So I’m planning, but he’s just resting and preparing.
“We’ve really not had any solid plans to announce what’s next. I’m looking at options to get him in the ring in July time.
“But we’ll only know if that’s a real possibility when he returns to camp, which will hopefully be in the next couple of weeks.
“I think there’s nothing more that he wants at the moment than to return to training camp because it’s where he loves to be.”
Eddie Hearn is walking back the buzz around Anthony Joshua potentially returning to the ring in July, clarifying that his earlier comments were speculative and that nothing has been decided.
Speaking to BoxingScene, Hearn explained that the chatter about a summer comeback stemmed from discussions about Joshua simply returning to the gym — not committing to a fight.
HEARN COOLS AJ RETURN TALK🥊
Eddie Hearn has calmed talk that Anthony Joshua could make a return to the ring in July.
'AJ' is expected back in camp in the next few weeks, only then a date for a return will be discussed. pic.twitter.com/3gvSCzKCRx
“I think he’s thinking about going back to [training] camp. I don’t think he’s thinking about fighting,” Hearn said. “He’s just thinking about, at some point, returning to training camp because I think he likes doing that, and that’s going to give him the answers as to ‘if’ and ‘when’ [he fights again].”
Hearn noted that Joshua could be heading back into camp within the next two to three weeks, which would then open the door for more concrete conversations about timing and opponents.
“Only then can there be a conversation about what’s realistic time wise and opponent wise, and that’s why we said July-ish could be a potential return,” Hearn said. “No decisions made yet.”
The promoter acknowledged the speculation had taken on a life of its own, but stressed that multiple outcomes remain on the table. Joshua could return in July, push a fight to the end of the year, or step away from the sport entirely.
“He could also go back to training camp and determine he’s not ready yet, and fight at the end of the year, or decide his heart isn’t in it anymore,” Hearn said. “I think training camp is a good place for him, because it’s a place that he feels very happy and motivated, and hopefully physically, he’ll feel like he’s ready to return.”
Joshua’s most recent ring appearance was a sixth-round knockout victory over Jake Paul on Netflix in December 2025 — a performance that had reignited talk of a serious comeback. But just 10 days after the fight, a fatal car accident in Nigeria cast a shadow over those plans, claiming the lives of two members of his inner circle — personal trainer Latif Ayodele and strength and conditioning coach Sina Ghami — and leaving Joshua to reflect on his future in the sport. Whether he laces up again remains an open question for now.
Eddie Hearn reveals Anthony Joshua will not fight Tyson Fury next
Anthony Joshua was involved in a fatal car crash in December, which resulted in the deaths of two teammates and left his boxing future uncertain.
Despite the accident, Joshua has returned to training, and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, is now targeting a potential return to the ring as early as July.
The original plan for Joshua to fight in March, followed by a bout with Tyson Fury in August, has been cancelled due to the crash.
A fight against Tyson Fury is now being considered for late 2026 or early 2027, with Hearn also mentioning rumours of a potential trilogy match against Oleksandr Usyk.
Hearn indicated that while every fight is dangerous, Joshua’s next bout could serve as a warm-up before tougher challenges, depending on his physical readiness.
Anthony Joshua targeting July return but won’t fight Tyson Fury next following fatal car crash, says Eddie Hearn
Anthony Joshua is targeting a return to the ring in July after surviving a fatal car crash in December but will not yet be fighting Tyson Fury next, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.
Joshua was involved in a road traffic accident while visiting family in Nigeria over Christmas, which resulted in two of his friends and members of his training team, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, being killed.
Joshua, who was initially hospitalised, had just beaten Jake Paul in a sixth-round knockout victory in Miami.
Fury is currently gearing up to face Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11 in what will mark his first fight since losing in a rematch to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024.
Hearn told The Sportsman: “[He was] due to fight in March, then fight Tyson Fury. That’s not happening anymore. He won’t be fighting Tyson Fury next.
“We’ve really not had any solid plans to announce what’s next.
“The focus for Anthony Joshua is to get back into training camp. He’s not ready to go back into training camp, physically but it’s getting closer.
“I think there’s nothing more that he wants at the moment than to return to training camp because it’s where he loves to be.
“Really, I think July is the time to return. We are looking at multiple options around the world for that potential return.
“I haven’t spoken that deeply with Anthony yet until he gets back into camp, and hopefully that will be in the next couple of weeks.”
Fury: Joshua’s tragic loss inspired my boxing comeback
Although the two will not fight just yet, Fury said his own return to boxing was inspired by Joshua’s tragic accident in late December.
At the start of 2025, Fury had announced that he would retire from boxing. But he since decided to come back and will fight Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11 in London.
Speaking after his return was announced, he said: “Tomorrow might not ever come.
“The biggest turning point in this comeback for me was the tragedy that happened with Anthony Joshua. I was on holiday in Thailand with my family for Christmas, just to get away from the rain.
“I hear all that bad news that’s gone on and I thought, you know what, life is very short, very precious and very fragile.
“Anything could happen at any given moment and you should never put things off until tomorrow, or the next year or next week, because tomorrow is not promised to nobody.
“Tomorrow is a mystery, we have to live for today. And me living for that day, I made my mind up there and then that I’m going to come back to boxing – because it’s something that I love, I’m passionate about and that I’ve always been in love with.
“There is no tomorrow to put it off to, so that’s why I’m back today for this big fight.”
Joshua: I understand my duty
In January, during Joshua’s only public appearance since the accident, the British boxer alluded to a desire to pursue his boxing goals and cement his legacy to help honour the memory of Ghima and Adoyele.
“My goal is to continue to help them achieve their goals,” Joshua said.
“It’s not just physical strength that will get me through. It’s going to take a lot of strength from a higher power. So I’m definitely going to say my prayers and help them fulfil their dreams for their families – not only me, there’s a whole team of us.
“I’m going to do what’s right by them, I’m going to do what’s right by their family.
“In my corner of the world I know what I’m going to be doing. What can I say? One day my time will come… But the mission must go on. I understand my duty.
“It isn’t about legacy, it’s just doing what’s right and I know I’m going to do what’s right for them. I know what I’ve got to do.”
‘The Gypsy King’ announced his return to the ring in January, a year after he said he was retiring following back-to-back losses to Usyk.
Fury was handed his first career defeat by the Ukrainian WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight champion in May 2024 and failed to bounce back in their rematch seven months later, losing both on points.
But the 37-year-old is back and ready to take the boxing world by storm once again.
In typical Fury fashion, ‘The Gypsy King’ took centre stage at the kick-off press conference for his fight with Russia’s Makhmudov, and he was asked why he decided to return.
Tyson Fury plans to ‘make boxing great again’
“I came back for one reason only, and that’s to make boxing great again,” Fury said.
“Since I retired for the fifth time over a year ago, boxing for me has gone on a downward slope.
“It’s become quite boring, and boxing has its maximum potential when Tyson Fury is actively fighting.”
Fury then explained how Joshua’s tragic motor accident in Nigeria, which happened only ten days after the British boxer defeated Jake Paul, ultimately prompted his return.
In December, Joshua was hospitalised and sadly lost two of his best friends and teammates, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, when the SUV he was travelling in crashed into a truck outside of Nigerian capital Lagos.
For Fury, that was a sign not to take life for granted, as he described why the awful accident instantly made up his mind about a return.
Why Anthony Joshua was an inspiration to Fury
“The biggest turning point in this comeback for me was a tragedy that happened with Anthony Joshua,” Fury added.
“I was on holiday with my family in Thailand for Christmas, just to get away from the rain. I was sick of the rain; it was depressing me.
“Then I heard all the bad news that had gone on, and I thought, ‘Life is very short, precious and fragile.’
“And anything could happen at any given moment, and you should never put things off until tomorrow, or next week, or next year.
“Because tomorrow is not promised to anybody, the Bible says tomorrow is not a gift – tomorrow is not promised.
“Tomorrow is a mystery, so we have to live for today, and me living for that day, I made my mind up there and then that I’m going to come back to boxing.
“Because it’s something that I love and I’m passionate about and that I’ve always been in love with.
“And there is no tomorrow to put it off to, so that’s why I’m back today for this big fight.”
Fury’s last win came against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in October 2023.
The victory over Ngannou came ten months after Fury stopped Derek Chisora in their London trilogy bout.
Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, promised a rejuvenated Fury at the London press conference and said it’s a matter of when, not if, his man becomes a three-time heavyweight champion.
Frank Warren, founder of Queensberry Promotions, described Fury as a ‘phenomenon’ and the best heavyweight of his generation with ‘so much still to give and prove
Tyson Fury manager lays out three-fight year as he names one of ‘front runners’ for comeback fight
He said he never discussed fighting with Fury, and it was entirely the heavyweight’s decision to make a comeback.
Warren added that he’d love to see Fury face Usyk for the third time, as well as take on the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois.
Fury: I’ll get the decision if I fight Usyk again
Fury, who is training in Thailand for his fight with Makhmudov, is eyeing up a trilogy with Usyk down the line, as he believes he will get his arm raised at the third time of asking.
“I’ve got a lot more to offer, and there’s a lot of big fights out there that I know I can win,” Fury said, speaking to Lennox Lewis on the Netflix broadcast after the press conference.
“I know I can beat this guy, and I know I can beat other heavyweight champions in this division.
“If we get a fight with Usyk again, I know I’ll get the decision this time… I’d like to think I’ll go on for a long time, who knows.”
Fury predicts he will finish Makhmudov via KO in the sixth round, and Usyk will come ‘begging’ for a fight due to the monetary value his name holds.
Makhmudov, who has stopped 19 of his 21 professional wins by knockout, scored a unanimous decision win over Briton Dave Allen in his last fight four months ago.
“I was very happy when I heard the news because for me this is a dream fight,” the 36-year-old said.
“All my life, I have gone for my goal. My parents, my uncle told me when I was 9 years old, ‘You’re gonna be champion of the world.’”
Speaking on his opponent and entering enemy territory once again, Makhmudov added: “He’s a legend, a big name in boxing, but I come here to make my legacy and my story.”
“When I was in Sheffield [fighting Allen], 10,000 arena, the arena was against me, but I said God is with me, it doesn’t matter who’s against me.
“And I was successful. This time it’s the same thing. All the world can be against me, but it’s nothing if God is with me.”
Fury vs Makhmudov concludes a huge few weeks in British boxing, with Moses Itauma and Chisora both booked in big fights beforehand.
Chatham’s 21-year-old heavyweight star Itauma faces Jermaine Franklin in the main event of the Magnificent 7 bill on March 28.
Chisora, meanwhile, contests his 50th professional fight against Deontay Wilder at London’s O2 Arena the following weekend.
Anthony Joshua’s Comeback Depends On Whether He Can Still Pull The Trigger
Anthony Joshua’s return is no longer about dates, opponents, or even Tyson Fury. It comes down to something far less visible: whether he can still switch off the part of the mind that calculates danger before stepping into it.
In December, Joshua survived a car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his closest friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele. He was reported to have suffered only minor physical injuries, but that is not the part that decides heavyweight fights.
The Instinct That Decides Heavyweight Fights
The part that decides fights lives in the split-second between seeing an opening and committing to it. Since the crash, Joshua has kept a low profile, limited to some gym footage, a brief video message, and later comments from Eddie Hearn.
Speaking to First Round TV, Hearn said, “I don’t think there are any guarantees he fights again, but at the same time I expect him to, because it is something that he loves.” He added that Joshua has been training but is “not ready yet, and won’t be for a while, to return to boxing training.” Heavyweight champions survive because they operate with a degree of insulation.
At his best, Joshua stepped into range without visible hesitation, accepted the risk of counters, and trusted his right hand to settle exchanges.
That kind of commitment requires a narrowing of focus that shuts out anything beyond the ropes. We have already seen Joshua deal with defeat inside the sport. He rebuilt after Andy Ruiz stopped him and attempted to adjust after two losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Those were boxing setbacks that demanded tactical correction and emotional control. Real-world trauma carries a different weight because it alters how a man processes risk in everyday life, and that processing does not automatically switch off under bright lights.
A heavyweight who pauses to measure every danger is vulnerable. If the jab retracts a fraction slower or the back foot lingers before planting, the other man will step in and take ground.
The difference between firing instinctively and calculating first can be a single beat, and at this level, that beat is enough for the opponent to seize control.
We’ll Know Early Joshua is 36 and has already travelled the full arc of champion, dethroned champion, and rebuild. The long-discussed Fury fight now feels secondary to a more immediate concern, which is whether Joshua even wants to stand in that space where violence is accepted without reflection. Belts and rivalries can wait; the psychological adjustment cannot be rushed.
No fighter returns unchanged after a shock of this scale. Some come back sharpened by it, channeling grief into focus. Others fight like men who have seen the cost of risk too clearly to ignore.
The public will not need months to work out which version appears. The answer will surface early, in the first committed exchange, when he has to decide whether to let his hands go without thinking about what might come back. Joshua does not need a payday or a legacy boost. He has already secured both.
The real test of this comeback is whether he can still narrow his world to the ring for twelve rounds and accept danger without flinching. If that instinct remains intact, he stays relevant at the top level. If it does not, no amount of training will disguise it for long.
PHOTOS: Joshua pays fresh tribute to late friends with new tattoo
Anthony Joshua has gotten a fresh tattoo of the names of his two friends who died in the car crash he survived in Nigeria.
Joshua’s close friends — Kevin Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami — lost their lives in a fatal accident that happened along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on December 29.
The former heavyweight boxing champion was also in the Lexus SUV that rammed into a stationary truck on the expressway, but he survived with minor injuries.
That put paid to Joshua’s immediate boxing plans but, speaking to First Round TV, his lifelong promoter Eddie Hearn has suggested he is starting to get back into the gym.
“I don’t think there is any guarantees he fights again, but at the same time I expect him to because it’s something that he loves. It’s something he can carry those guys with him, though as well and it’s something he wants to do.
“From a boxing sense, physically it wasn’t easy what he went through either. People probably don’t realise the extent of what he’s been through. He’s been training, but he’s not ready yet and he won’t be for a while to return to boxing training.
“We were gearing up for him to fight in March and then fight Tyson Fury. Obviously, that’s not going to happen now. I don’t know if it will ever happen. In the next few months, he will turn up the dial on training and see where he is at on that.”
Fury, too, is making a return after more than a year out when he takes on Arslanbek Makmuhdov in April, but only time will tell whether he and Joshua finally get it on in the ring, and ‘AJ’s decision will be respected by fans, analysts and fellow fighters either way.
Anthony Joshua has counter-offer for Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s famous Dagestan offer
Anthony Joshua doesn’t want to be sent to Dagestan for two-three years and forget – but he is interested in a visit.
The two-time unified heavyweight boxing champion currently lives in Dubai, where he stopped by PFL’s latest event on Saturday night. As usual, their show at the Coca-Cola Arena was headlined by Usman Nurmagomedov, who choked out Alfie Davis in the third round of their clash to retain his belt.
Before the fight, Joshua headed backstage to meet with the famed Nurmagomedov team, which included an all-star corner. Khabib Nurmagomedov headed up proceedings alongside Javier Mendez, while Usman’s brother Umar and the legendary Islam Makhachev filled out the corner.
Anthony Joshua wants brief visit to Dagestan to train with Islam Makhachev
During his visit to the Nurmagomedov dressing room, Anthony Joshua spent time with Khabib Nurmagomedov. But he seemed particularly keen to meet with Islam Makhachev and show him something on his phone.
The two-weight UFC champion was the last person Joshua met before heading back to his seat, and was quick to take out his phone and show Makhachev something. They didn’t appear to laugh at whatever was shown, but the pound-for-pound great did tell him that he ‘should come’ to Dagestan.
Joshua then made reference to the popular ‘2-3 years Dagestan’ meme, which is used when someone is not masculine and it is suggested that they head to the Russian town to learn to fight and become tougher.
The boxing champion joked that he might not be willing to visit for two or three years, but instead might make a trip for two to three weeks, which drew a big laugh from the room.
Anthony Joshua meets with PFL MMA CEO John Martin
It wasn’t just the Nurmagomedovs who got a chance to meet with the heavyweight boxing star. He sat next to Dakota Ditcheva throughout the night, and also had a chance to meet with the new CEO John Martin.
Joshua and Martin could be seen shaking hands, with the Brit asking him ‘how’s business’. The former Turner Broadcasting boss took over last year, and is already making wholesale changes including getting rid of the world tournament and allowing long-time executives Donn Davis and Peter Murray to move on.
