By Ugo Kevwe
National News – British-Nigerian heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has revealed he is still struggling to come to terms with the deaths of two close friends and members of his support team as he prepares to return to the ring for the first time since the tragic incident.
Joshua will face Albania’s Kristian Prenga on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, marking his first fight since surviving a fatal road crash in Nigeria on December 29, 2025.
The accident claimed the lives of Sina Ghami, Joshua’s long-serving sports rehabilitation coach, and Latif Ayodele, his close friend and personal trainer. The boxer sustained only minor injuries after the vehicle carrying them collided with a stationary truck near Lagos.
Speaking ahead of his comeback, the former two-time heavyweight world champion admitted the emotional wounds remain fresh.
“It is tough. Every time I think about it, it hurts. Even talking about it now, it hurts. I keep my mind occupied because if I stop and let it sink in, I am not ready for that yet,” Joshua said.
Ghami had worked with Joshua for more than a decade, playing a key role in his physical conditioning and recovery, while Ayodele had been one of the boxer’s closest companions for years. Hours before the crash, Joshua had shared a video on social media showing the pair enjoying a game of table tennis.
Saturday’s bout will also mark Joshua’s first appearance since his knockout loss to IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024. Despite the lengthy layoff, the 36-year-old said he is embracing the pressure that comes with competing at the highest level.
“There are always nerves because I want to perform for my team, make them proud and also make myself proud. But I know what my job is and I have clarity on what I need to do,” he said.
The contest could also move Joshua a step closer to a long-anticipated all-British showdown with Tyson Fury later this year.
Fury is scheduled to fight Poland’s Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, on Friday, while Joshua takes on Prenga the following day in Saudi Arabia. Victory for both fighters is expected to pave the way for one of boxing’s biggest domestic clashes.
Joshua, however, insisted his full attention remains on Prenga.
“I am not overlooking Prenga. This is a big fight for me. God willing, if everything goes well, whether we face off on Saturday night or within the next four to six weeks, it will happen,” he said.
