Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has returned to light training just 19 days after surviving a tragic car accident that resulted in the deaths of two people close to him.
Joshua, now 36, suffered injuries in the December 29 crash along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, an incident that claimed the lives of his strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, and his trainer, Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
Despite the emotional and physical toll of the incident, the boxer signalled his slow recovery by sharing a Snapchat video showing him hitting pads. The clip carried the caption “mental strength therapy,” suggesting a cautious step back into routine nearly three weeks after the devastating loss.
Additional footage showed Joshua exercising on a stationary bike and swimming in a pool, with the various moments edited into a brief montage. In another post, he shared an image displaying elapsed time on a cardio machine, captioned, “I am a fighter.” He also reposted a throwback image from his memorable 2017 heavyweight title bout against Wladimir Klitschko, in which he was shown taking a punch.
Joshua, who has Nigerian roots, had been spending time in Nigeria on holiday after defeating Jake Paul in Miami just 10 days before the fatal accident occurred.
Investigations revealed that the driver involved in the crash, 47-year-old Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, did not possess a valid driver’s licence at the time. The incident led to Joshua’s hospitalization and the filing of criminal charges against Kayode.
During a recent court appearance, Kayode pleaded not guilty to all allegations, including dangerous driving. He claimed the accident was caused by brake failure. Although granted bail, he was remanded at the Sagamu Correctional Centre for documentation procedures.
Kayode’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, later stated that his client had recently renewed his driver’s licence and had been permitted to drive while awaiting the release of the updated document.
“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.
“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.
What you should know
Anthony Joshua’s return to training marks a significant personal step following a deeply traumatic period that combined physical injury with the loss of close members of his team.
The crash has not only affected his recovery but has also sparked legal proceedings that continue to unfold in Nigeria. As one of boxing’s most recognisable figures, Joshua’s resilience and gradual return to fitness have drawn widespread attention, while questions around road safety, driver accountability, and the legal process remain central to the case.
His latest training clips suggest a focus on mental and physical healing rather than an immediate return to competition.
