Anthony Joshua Set for Emotional Return to Ring in Honour of Late Friends, Says Hearn

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will return to the ring in honour of his late close friends, Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele (Latz).

Joshua was injured and hospitalised in Lagos, Nigeria, on December 29, 2025, after a car crash that claimed the lives of Ghami and Latif, both members of his training team. While Joshua survived in stable condition, the tragedy left him grieving deeply and raised questions about whether he would continue his boxing career.

Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Hearn reflected on Joshua’s resilience and the role boxing has played in his recovery.

‘After the Jake Paul fight, [Joshua] was on such a high. Last year was painful for him, coming off the defeat to Dubois… Just seeing him so happy after the Jake Paul fight, and then that happens, it’s devastating,’ Hearn said.

‘It almost feels like, being with him recently, boxing saved him, and it will probably save him again. I think he will fight on, and I think he’ll do it in their honor, but it’s not going to be easy.”

Meanwhile, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, the 46-year-old driver of the SUV involved in the crash, faces four charges: dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention, and driving without a valid national driver’s licence.

He appeared at Sagamu Magistrate Court in Ogun State, where the case was adjourned until February 25 at the prosecution’s request.

Joshua’s return, Hearn stressed, will not only mark a comeback to the sport but also serve as a tribute to the memory of Ghami and Latif, whose loss continues to weigh heavily on the champion.