Anthony Joshua has returned to training nearly three weeks after a fatal car crash that killed two of his close friends.
The 36-year-old former heavyweight champion was injured in the December 29 accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which claimed the lives of his strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, and trainer Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
Joshua shared a Snapchat video of himself hitting pads with the caption “mental strength therapy,” signaling his gradual return to routine. Other clips showed him cycling on an exercise bike and swimming, all compiled into a short montage.
He also posted a photo of a cardio machine timer with the caption “I am a fighter” and a throwback image from his 2017 bout against Wladimir Klitschko. The boxer, who is of Nigerian descent, had been on holiday in Nigeria after defeating Jake Paul in Miami just 10 days before the crash.
At the time of the accident, Joshua’s driver, 47-year-old Adeniyi Kayode, did not have a valid driver’s licence. The crash left Joshua hospitalized and led to criminal charges against Kayode.
In a recent court appearance, Kayode pleaded not guilty to all charges, including dangerous driving, claiming the brakes failed. He was granted bail but taken to Sagamu Correctional Centre for documentation.
Kayode’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, said his client had recently renewed his licence and was cleared to drive pending the release of the new document. He described the crash as an accident and explained that Joshua had initially sat in the front seat but swapped with the driver because of his size, while Latif Ayodele also moved seats before the collision occurred.
