Tag: Eddie Hearn

According to his promoter Eddie Hearn, Anthony Joshua may consider retiring from boxing following a fatal car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close friends.

Hearn said there are no guarantees the former heavyweight champion will return to the ring as he continues to recover physically and emotionally from the December accident in Ogun State.

Recall that Joshua had travelled to Nigeria to visit family after stopping Jake Paul with a single punch in his previous bout. However, tragedy struck on 29 December 2025 when the vehicle he was travelling in collided with a stationary truck along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Sina Ghami, Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, one of his trainers, died in the crash. Joshua survived and was taken to hospital for treatment before later returning to the United Kingdom. He subsequently attended the burial ceremonies of both men.

Speaking to First Round TV, Hearn admitted Joshua’s future in the sport remains unclear.

“I don’t think there is any guarantees he fights again, but at the same time, I expect him to because it’s something that he loves. It’s something he can carry those guys with him, though as well, and it’s something he wants to do,” Hearn said.

He added that the impact of the crash went beyond emotional trauma.

“From a boxing sense, physically, it wasn’t easy what he went through either. People probably don’t realise the extent of what he’s been through. He’s been training, but he’s not ready yet, and he won’t be for a while to return to boxing training,” the boxing promoter noted.

Hearn disclosed that Joshua had been preparing for a March fight, with a potential bout against fellow Briton Tyson Fury under consideration. Those plans have now been shelved.

“We were gearing up for him to fight in March and then fight Tyson Fury. Obviously, that’s not going to happen now. I don’t know if it will ever happen. In the next few months, he will turn up the dial on training and see where he is at on that,” Hearn said.

Fury is scheduled to return to action in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov after more than a year out of the ring.

British boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has stated that former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will be the sole judge of when he is ready to make his return to the boxing ring.

Joshua was involved in a car accident along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on December 29, which claimed the lives of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, and left the British boxer injured.

Born in Watford to Nigerian parents, Joshua was on holiday in Nigeria following his sixth-round knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Hearn said Joshua must fully recover mentally, physically and emotionally before making any decisions about his boxing future.

“He will need his time physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually before he decides on his future. I do think he will want to return to boxing, but that will be his decision when the time is right,” Hearn said.

He added that the focus for now should be on Joshua’s wellbeing rather than his career plans.

“The only conversation is ‘are you OK?’ What happened to him is not normal and heartbreaking for all involved. When the time is right, I believe he will make his decision, and you will hear it from him. That is the only voice you should listen to in that respect,”Hearn said.