Anthony Joshua said he is not ready for the loss of his two close friends and team members to “sink in yet” as he prepares for his first fight since their death.
Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele died when the vehicle they were travelling in, alongside heavyweight boxer Joshua and another passenger, collided with a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos, Nigeria, on 29 December 2025.
Joshua, who sustained minor injuries, is set to return to the ring against heavyweight Kristian Prenga on Saturday for his first contest since knocking out American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul 10 days before the crash.
The 36-year-old said: “It’s tough, every time I think about it, it hurts.
“Even talking about it now… pictures… it hurts but I keep my mind occupied you know.
“If I stop, you let it sink in and I’m not ready for it to sink in yet.”
Ghami was Joshua’s full-time sport and exercise rehabilitation coach and worked with him for more than 10 years.
Hours before the crash, Joshua posted a video on Instagram of him playing table tennis with his long-time friend Ayodele, a personal trainer.
Prenga will be Joshua’s first competitive fight since his knockout loss to IBF world champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.
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