ANTHONY JOSHUA BEGINS TRAINING AFTER TRAGIC CRASH

By: Gyang Dakwo

Anthony Joshua has returned to the gym just 19 days after being injured in a car crash in Nigeria, which killed two of his close friends.

The former world heavyweight champion was injured in the crash near Lagos on December 29, which claimed the lives of his strength coach Sina Ghami, and personal trainer, Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.

Having spent New Year’s in hospital before attending his friends’ funerals in London on January 4, the 36-year-old is now continuing his recovery by returning to training.

Joshua posted a video on Snapchat showing him working out, hitting pads, exercising, and riding a stationary bike.

One of the clips carried the slogan “mental strength therapy”.

Joshua, who was born in Watford to Nigerian parents, was on holiday following his win over Jake Paul in Miami 10 days before the crash.

On Wednesday, promoter Eddie Hearn said he believes Joshua will return to boxing when he has had time to heal.

He told Sky Sports: “He will need his time physically, mentally, emotionally, 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.

“It is certainly not a conversation I’ll be having with him any time soon. The only conversation is ‘are you OK?’ and sometimes we find people will give that facade of being OK, but 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, and we’ll give him his time to make that decision and heal.”