By Enitan Abdultawab
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has admitted there are no assurances that Anthony Joshua will fight again following the fatal road accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of the boxer’s close friends late last year.
Joshua, 36, suffered minor injuries in the 29 December crash that claimed the lives of Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele. While the former two-time heavyweight champion has resumed light training, Hearn said a competitive return is not imminent.
“I don’t think there are any guarantees he fights again,” Hearn said in an interview with First Round TV, adding that although he expects Joshua to return because of his passion for boxing, the decision ultimately rests with the fighter.
Hearn noted that beyond the emotional toll of the incident, Joshua also faced physical challenges that have slowed his full return to boxing camp. Although the Olympic gold medallist shared a workout video in January captioned “mental strength therapy”, his promoter stressed that he is not yet ready to resume full boxing training.
Joshua has kept a relatively low profile since the accident but made a rare public appearance at a Professional Fighters League event in Dubai over the weekend.
Before the tragedy, plans were reportedly in place for Joshua to fight in March, with a potential long-awaited showdown against Tyson Fury under consideration. However, those discussions have since stalled. Fury recently confirmed he will return to action against Arslanbek Makhmudov in the UK on 11 April.
Joshua last entered the ring on 19 December, stopping Jake Paul in the sixth round to record his 29th professional victory, 26 of which have come by knockout. Following that bout, he expressed readiness to face Fury.
For now, Hearn said the focus remains on Joshua’s gradual recovery, both physically and mentally, with a possible decision on his future expected in the coming months.
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