Anthony Joshua says he is still struggling to process the deaths of two close friends and team members as he prepares to return to the ring for the first time since the fatal road traffic collision that claimed their lives.
Joshua faces Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday in his first bout since knocking out Jake Paul, a fight that took place 10 days before the crash near Lagos, Nigeria, on 29 December 2025. Sina Ghami, Joshua’s long-time sport and exercise rehabilitation coach, and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, a close friend and personal trainer, died when the vehicle they were travelling in collided with a stationary truck. Joshua sustained minor injuries.
“It’s tough, every time I think about it, it hurts,” said Joshua, according to BBC Sport. “Even talking about it now… pictures… it hurts but I keep my mind occupied you know. If I stop, you let it sink in and I’m not ready for it to sink in yet.” Discussing his return to competition, Joshua added: “It’s competition at the highest level. I want to perform for my team, I want to make them proud and make myself proud. It’s a balance of nerves but I understand what my job is. [I have] a lot of understanding and clarity on what I have to do.”
Attention has already turned to a long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury later this year, provided both men win their upcoming contests. Fury is scheduled to face Mariusz Wach on Friday in Thailand, with the possibility of attending Joshua’s fight the following evening after previously inviting his rival to a post-fight face-off earlier this year.
Joshua insisted his full focus remains on Prenga before any potential clash with Fury. “I’m not overlooking Prenga. This is a big deal for me this fight. God willing, everything works out,” Joshua added. “If it’s not Saturday night where we face-off, it will be within the next four to six weeks. It’s a big mark to leave on the sport. If I win on Saturday and I could win later in the year, it’s massive. The stars are aligned and I have to make sure that I’m on course. It’s out there for me to go and do. It’s going to be challenging but I can be the coward or the hero and I have to decide what I want to be.”
Joshua’s meeting with Prenga will also mark his first competitive appearance since suffering a knockout defeat to IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024, as the former unified world champion attempts to begin a new chapter in his career.
