Anthony Joshua is undergoing intensive treatment on his ribs as the two-time heavyweight champion continues physical rehabilitation months after the devastating car crash that claimed the lives of two of his closest friends in Nigeria.
Joshua, 36, was involved in the fatal accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on December 29 — just 10 days after knocking out Jake Paul in six rounds in Miami.
The crash claimed the lives of his personal trainer, Kevin “Latz” Ayodele, and his long-time recovery therapist Sina Ghami. Joshua sustained minor injuries and was discharged from hospital two days later before flying back to the United Kingdom to attend the funerals of the two men he described as his “brothers.”
The former champion later shared images of the intense rib therapy on Snapchat, writing, “Rehabilitation protocol. When you go through certain things, you realise that you are stronger than you think you are.”
With his recovery still ongoing, the case against his driver, Adeniyi Kayode, has been adjourned until March 13 at a magistrate’s court in Sagamu.
Joshua had originally been scheduled to fight in March, but the accident disrupted those plans. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, believes the former champion could still make a return later this year.
“Originally, the plan with AJ was for him to fight in March and then face Tyson Fury in August. That’s not happening,” Hearn said in February.
“He’s going to come back, I believe, late summer, but physically he’s not yet in a position to return to camp. I’m looking at options to get him back in the ring in July.”
Meanwhile, Fury, 37, who expressed sympathy following the tragedy, said he is not considering a fight with Joshua for now.
“I’m not interested in going toe-to-toe with somebody who’s in a bad place at the moment. I’ve been in a bad place many times myself. I wish them boys all the best,” the WBC champion said. Fury is expected to return to the ring in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
