Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has made a quiet but powerful return to training, just 19 days after surviving a devastating car crash that claimed the lives of two of his closest aides.
The 36-year-old boxing star sustained injuries in the December 29 accident on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, a tragedy that killed his strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, and his long-time trainer, Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele. The incident sent shockwaves through the boxing world and cast a shadow over what had been a celebratory period following Joshua’s recent victory.
On Thursday, Joshua signaled his gradual return to normalcy by sharing a Snapchat video of himself hitting pads, accompanied by the caption, “mental strength therapy.” The short montage also showed the former world champion cycling on an exercise bike and swimming in a pool, underscoring his slow but determined recovery process.
Further posts revealed a photo of the elapsed time on a cardio machine with the words, “I am a fighter,” as well as a throwback image from his iconic 2017 heavyweight title bout against Wladimir Klitschko, in which Joshua was famously knocked down before rallying to secure victory. The posts appeared to reflect both physical rehabilitation and emotional resilience.
Joshua, who is of Nigerian descent, had been holidaying in Nigeria following his victory over Jake Paul in Miami just 10 days before the fatal collision.
Investigations into the crash revealed that the driver, Adeniyi Kayode, 47, did not have a valid driver’s licence at the time of the accident. Joshua was hospitalised following the crash, while Kayode was subsequently charged with several offences, including dangerous driving.
At a recent court hearing, Kayode pleaded not guilty to all charges, insisting that the accident was caused by brake failure. He was granted bail but remanded at the Sagamu Correctional Centre for documentation.
Speaking on the case, Kayode’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, said his client maintained that the incident was a tragic accident.
“My client has pleaded not guilty and what happened was an accident. I haven’t had a full chance to speak with him yet, but I know he is saying the brakes did not work,” Abiodun told the Daily Mail.
He further explained the seating arrangement in the vehicle prior to the crash. “I also understand that the journey started in Lagos and that initially Anthony had got into the front seat, but the driver asked him to swap seats. He did this because Anthony is a big fellow, and he couldn’t see the wing mirror properly, so he asked him to move, and he sat behind the driver. From what I understand, Latif was in front and then changed seats with Anthony,” he added.
