‘It’s Not Easy’: Anthony Joshua injury update issued after fatal car crash

Eddie Hearn is unsure on “when” or “even if” Anthony Joshua will return to training after the British star was involved in a tragic car crash last month.

The 36-year-old recently returned to the gym – just weeks after losing two of his close friends in a car crash. ‘AJ’ was involved in a fatal collision in Nigeria which claimed the lives of both Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami. Reports emerged later that the boxer suffered minor injuries, having cheated death by swapping seats ahead of the journey.

Joshua was spotted training over in Dubai, and was recently paid a visit by Hearn – who shared a post on Instagram. “Great to catch up today,” the Matchroom supremo wrote. The incident came just days after Joshua’s knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami.

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After meeting up with the boxer for the first time since the crash, Hearn provided an update on his star client and good friend. “It was good to just see him. I have not had the opportunity to see him since the terrible crash,” he told iFL TV. “He is, of course, still mourning. We were in Dubai. We were at his house staying there.

“That’s where he lived with “Latz” (Latif Ayodele) and Sina (Ghami). It’s not easy. He is keeping himself busy. Physically, he is getting himself over the injuries that he suffered. I think soon he will speak in terms of… I do not think there will be anything boxing related.”

Having escaped with slight injuries, Joshua is simply training “for his own mind,” according to Hearn. The Matchroom Boxing chief has been bombarded with questions over the Brit’s future, but he himself is still unsure what the future holds for the 36-year-old. “They are not injuries that will affect him long-term moving forward,” he continued. “But they are injuries that will take time. Boxing is a tough and rough sport. You can’t just go back in camp with injuries like that and I do not know when or even if he will go back into camp.

“At the moment, there is no conversation or no need to have a conversation about that. It’s just… ‘AJ’ will always train. And the training… and I think that’s a lesson to everybody, training can help so much and solve so much. And I think he relies on… do not forget that boxing changed his life forever and he will never leave the gym. And what you are seeing at the moment is not him training for his return.

“He is training for his own mind. And he is training for himself physically to recover and repair. I just cannot believe his strength and resilience.” He added: “It was really good to see him as a friend. And just see him, talk to him, be around him and we are forever there for him as so many people are. Nothing will fill the void of losing those two in his life.”

Hearn’s comments come after Joshua recently shared snaps of him hitting the pads in what he described as “mental strength therapy.” The boxing legend was seen pushing himself with some lower leg exercises as well as riding a stationary bike. Despite uncertainty over his future, Joshua’s uncle sensationally claimed the heavyweight fighter had informed his family he will retire following the crash.

The Brit allegedly made the decision ‘known to his family in private’. “The major thing there is that he has retired from boxing. That is one thing that makes us glad because each time he’s fighting in the ring, we are always carried away emotionally,” Adedamola Joshua told The Punch. Mirror Fighting understands that the 36-year-old is still yet to make a decision on his fighting future.

Oleksandr Usyk – who famously shared the ring with Joshua on two separate occasions with the Brit – has become close friends with the fighter and has completely contradicted Adedamola’s remarks having shared a conversation with him. During a recent interview with Ready To Fight, he said: “I’ve already spoken with him.

“I heard a desire to continue in his voice — for the friends he lost and for the chance to live that the Lord gave him. Once I spoke with the mother of my fallen comrade, and she told me: ‘Oleksandr, he would be very proud that you are continuing your work; he will watch you from heaven.’ And he, I think, does that. And not just him, but all my loved ones who passed away defending our country. They are my guardian angels who help me in the ring.”

On Tuesday, 46-year-old Adeniyi Kayode – who was the driver on the black Lexus SUV – appeared in Magistrates’ court in Ogun State. Kayode – who was seen wearing a blue hoodie – was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention, and driving without a valid driver’s licence. The case was adjourned until February 25 with Kayode released on bail.

‘He is truly grateful’ – Eddie Hearn shares Anthony Joshua update after ‘inspiring’ catch-up

Anthony Joshua will ‘take his time to get back on track’ as he comes to terms with two unimaginable losses.

That’s according to Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, who caught up with the two-time heavyweight champion following a tragic motor accident last month.

Hearn has been spotted working out with ‘AJ’ just days after the British boxing star returned to the gym for the first time since the fatal crash.

Joshua was hospitalised in December after the SUV he was travelling in collided with a stationary truck just outside of Lagos, Nigeria, having been on holiday to celebrate his triumph over Jake Paul only 10 days earlier.

The accident tragically claimed the lives of two of his teammates, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, with the funeral of both men taking place earlier this month.

Joshua paid an emotional tribute to his best friends, saying he never realised ‘how special’ they were, and it’s no surprise that talks of a return to the ring are being kept on hold for now.

Anthony Joshua will ‘take his time’ says Eddie Hearn

“Great to catch up with Anthony Joshua today,” Matchroom kingpin Hearn wrote via social media on Sunday.

“His resilience and strength is inspiring. The loss is heavy and he will take his time to get back on track.

“But said he is truly grateful for all the support and the love shown for Latz and Sina.”

Hearn also shared a video alongside Joshua on a stationary bike, highlighting that time appears to be the only method of healing for his fighter at this point.

He has refrained from commenting on Joshua’s future amid links to a super fight with Tyson Fury in 2026.

“To be honest, at this stage, it is a no comment from us,” Hearn told talkSPORT this week.

“Just out of respect to Anthony. With everything he has been through and the tragic loss of Sina and Latz.

“At the moment, Anthony needs time and privacy. There will be no conversations from us about his career.

“Nothing about any move or what’s next. This is a terrible tragedy and he’s going to need his own time physically and emotionally.

“There is nothing to discuss and prayers for him and the families of all those involved in this terrible incident.”

Fury confirmed his decision to reverse his retirement on January 4.

‘The Gypsy King’ has since shared footage back in the gym, with his manager, Spencer Brown, suggesting he could fight three times this year.

Before the accident, Joshua was expected to fight in February or March to set up a blockbuster with Fury.

Eddie Hearn Provides Fresh Anthony Joshua Update as AJ Pays Tribute to Lost Friends

Eddie Hearn has provided boxing fans with an update on Anthony Joshua after he was involved in a fatal car crash that saw two of his friends lose their lives.

However, those quotes were later debunked, with a source telling the Daily Mail that the guy has no involvement in Joshua’s career.

Now, though, a man that DOES have a say in Joshua’s career has spoken out, and Hearn has provided a brief update on the situation, how AJ is doing, and what the next steps are.

READ: Everything Anthony Joshua has said about horrific car crash that

Eddie Hearn’s Anthony Joshua Statement in Full

Hearn said: “I think, to be honest, at this stage, it’s definitely a no comment from us. Just because of the respect to Anthony. Obviously with everything he’s been through with the tragic loss of Sina and Latz.

“At the moment, Anthony needs time. Time and privacy. There will be no conversations from us about a career, any moves, what’s next.

“This is a terrible tragedy and Anthony’s going to need his own time, physically and emotionally.

“And at the moment, there’s nothing to discuss or say. Let’s give him his time and pray for him and, of course, all the families involved in this terrible incident.”

Anthony Joshua’s Tragic Car Crash in Nigeria

While out in Nigeria visiting family over the festive period, Anthony Joshua and his two friends were involved in a fatal car crash when the vehicle they were travelling in lost control and collided into a stationary lorry. The two friends sadly passed away at the scene, while AJ only suffered minor injuries.

In the days and weeks that have gone since, it’s emerged that the driver of the vehicle didn’t have a licence, and he has been charged on four counts, which could see him spend the rest of his life in prison if found guilty.

For Joshua, he’s since returned to the UK, but it’s clear that his focus and attention isn’t on boxing at the moment. After defeating Jake Paul in December, it was expected that he would fight again early 2026 before sharing the ring once and for all with Tyson Fury, with September being a possible month for the contest to take place.

However, as Hearn has rightfully said in his fresh statement, boxing has to take a backseat for now while AJ recovers physically and mentally from what happened in Nigeria.

Anthony Joshua Pays Tribute to Lost Friends

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Following on from Hearn’s update on AJ, the heavyweight boxer himself has taken to Instagram to share a beautiful tribute to his two friends that lost their lives in the car crash.

Joshua wrote: “Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers. I didn’t even realise how special they are. I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. 100% it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents. I have a strong mind, and I believe God knows their hearts. May God have mercy on my brothers.”

Eddie Hearn feared he had made huge Anthony Joshua mistake

Eddie Hearn feared he played the wrong hand when it came to signing Anthony Joshua.

Joshua has enjoyed a glittering career at the top of boxing’s heaviest division. The 35-year-old was destined for greatness after he struck gold at the Olympic Games in London back in 2012. Following his triumph on home soil, major promoters were eager to tie the Brit down.

‘AJ’ received several multi-fight deals and life-changing money. It came as no surprise, seeing as he was tipped to become the poster boy of British boxing. Joshua met up with Hearn, but the latter decided to make a real gamble. The promoter urged the boxer to take his time and meet with everyone else before making a final decision.

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It was a risky move from Hearn, especially after he did not hear from Joshua for six weeks. It was at that point 46-year-old feared the young boxer had made a slight mistake. In ‘Matchroom: The Greatest Showmen’ – which is now airing on Netflix, Hearn shared his earlier memories of Joshua.

“Anthony Joshua is definitely the most important figure in our boxing business… ever,” said Hearn. “He became Olympic champion in 2012 and every promoter in boxing wanted to represent this man… the race was on to sign Anthony Joshua. Anthony is a deep thinking, he is a gatherer of information and I never heard from him and I thought, what have you done? Then I got a message saying he wanted to come back in. He said, ‘I’ve met everyone and I want to sign with you, that changed out company forever and we’ve shared some moments with AJ.”

Hearn’s father, Barry – who is the founder and president of the Matchroom empire – followed up on his son’s comments and admits he too was itching to sign the Brit. “I was desperate to sign him straight away and Eddie said no,” he admitted. “Give him some time, let him come to us. It was about a year and Joshua had been around every operator in the world.”

The Hearns have since stuck with Joshua after the British boxing sensation penned a deal with the promotion in October 2013. On the topic of the Hearn family, Joshua said: “Matchroom are family run business, Barry, the Godfather, what he’s achieved coming from a council estate like myself, I take my hat off to him. One thing I do want is to buy that house, the Matchroom office from him, that’s one of my goals. Eddie is good at what he does and I’m good at what I do. I’m like the artwork that goes on the wall and Eddie’s there to sell the art, but if I was a bad boxer, Eddie would not make the time for me.”

Joshua has enjoyed some memorable moments under the guidance of Matchroom. After making his professional debut in 2013, ‘AJ’ quickly rose up the ranks across the regional scene, but it was evident early on that he was able to compete with some of the best in the world at heavyweight.

The 35-year-old first became a world champion in 2016, knocking out Charles Martin in the second round. Joshua went on to defend the title multiple times and pick up more hardware along the way with wins over the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Carlos Takam, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin.

He suffered the first defeat of his career in 2019 after he was stopped by Andy Ruiz Jr in New York. That said, he went on to get his revenge in the immediate rematch, before eventually going head-to-head with Oleksandr Usyk on two separate occasions in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Despite losing both outings, Joshua regained some sort of momentum with wins over Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou. ‘AJ’ has not fought since losing to Daniel Dubois last September. The two-time heavyweight champion is expected to return early next year in what could be his final year as a boxer.