Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has said the former world heavyweight champion will determine his boxing future “when the time is right”, following the tragic car crash in Nigeria that killed two of Joshua’s close team members.
The 36-year-old former world champion sustained minor injuries in the December 29 crash near Lagos, which claimed the lives of his strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, and trainer Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
As reported by BBC Sport on Friday, Joshua has since returned to training, posting a Snapchat video of himself hitting pads with the caption “mental strength therapy”, signaling his gradual return to normalcy nearly three weeks after the tragedy.
“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.”
The promoter emphasised that Joshua’s well-being comes first:
“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,” he added.
Joshua had fought and defeated Jake Paul in Miami on December 19, just ten days before the crash, which occurred while he was on holiday in Nigeria.
PUNCH Online had reported that Hearn believes the former world heavyweight champion will return to boxing after grieving the deaths of his two close friends in a car crash in Nigeria
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