Anthony Joshua Vows to Be ‘Good Soldier’ for Late Friends’ Families Ahead of Ring Return

​Former two-time unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has broken his silence following a devastating tragedy, pledging lifelong emotional and financial support to the grieving parents of his late friends, Sina Ghami and Abdul Latif “Latz” Kevin Ayodele.

​The two men—longtime childhood friends and core members of Joshua’s training camp—tragically lost their lives in a horrific car crash on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Nigeria last December. Joshua was also in the vehicle and survived the fatal accident, sustaining minor physical injuries but carrying immense emotional trauma. Funeral rites and Janaza prayers for the two men were held at the London Central Mosque in January.

​Speaking to the media for the first time since the incident during a London press conference, the 36-year-old British-Nigerian boxing star revealed he is compartmentalizing his own profound grief to serve as a pillar of strength for the families left behind.

​”I have to put my emotions to the side because I focus on the parents, if I’m honest,” Joshua said. “My emotions can come at a later stage. I really look at the parents and understand it’s been most difficult for them. So, I don’t make it about me, I make it about them—the mums and the dads of my two friends.

​Everyone does it differently, but for me, that’s the best way of handling the situation. It’s not about me, it’s bigger than me. I’m just there for their parents. It’s about being a good soldier for them because I’ve got to look after them.”

​The Road to Redemption and a Blockbuster Future

​The tragedy initially cast doubts on whether the Olympic gold medalist would ever return to professional boxing. However, Joshua stated that the sport has become a vital component of his healing process.

​“This is my purpose,” Joshua reflected. “Boxing is not only good for the competitive side of things, but it’s also quite therapeutic; it gives us fighters a lot of purpose, and that’s what it does for me.”

​Promoter Eddie Hearn praised Joshua’s resilience, noting that the fighter has channeled his immense pain into his training camp in Spain, where he has even spent time working alongside former rival and current heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

​”He comes back with so much vengeance and emotion because he does it for Sina and ‘Latz’ Ayodele,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “The strength and the support that he’s given to the family is an absolute priority to him… He wants it more now than he’s ever wanted it before.”

​Crucial Heavyweight Clash Awaits in Jeddah

​Joshua’s highly anticipated return to the ring is locked in for July 25, 2026, at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia. He will face the dangerous, unbeaten Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga. Though relatively unknown to casual boxing fans, Prenga boasts a formidable record of 20 victories—all coming by way of knockout—and represents a serious “banana-skin” threat to Joshua’s aspirations.

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​This summer showdown serves as the first bout of a lucrative two-fight deal orchestrated by Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. Should Joshua successfully dismantle Prenga in July, he is locked in to finally face long-term British rival Tyson Fury in a historic blockbuster clash scheduled for late November 2026.

​For Joshua, the upcoming fight in Jeddah is no longer just about reclamation of titles or securing legacy; it is a mission fueled by a deep-rooted duty to those he lost.