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Joshua: ‘I am fighting to make my late friends happy’

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Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua has bravely opened up about the passing of friends Sina Ghami and Kevin ‘Lateef’ Ayodele in an interview with talkSPORT.

In December last year, Joshua was involved in a tragic car accident on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Nigeria, which killed two of his close friends, Ghami and Ayodele.

The pair were a key part of Joshua’s life and members of the British heavyweight’s

Anthony Joshua

team

throughout his remarkable rise to boxing stardom.

Joshua took time away from the ring to grieve their passing, and has always ensured to post regular tributes ever since.

For the first time since the accident, AJ will return to the boxing ring to take on Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, this weekend.

Anthony Joshua and Kristian Prenga

It has been an emotional time for the boxing great, who has had to go through a turbulent journey to even get back into training.

But now ahead of his comeback fight, Joshua has explained how he will honour their

lives

and ensure he continues to live for them moving forward.

“One million, million per cent (memories of friends will motivate him),” Joshua told talkSPORT’s Spencer Oliver and Adam Smith.

“Obviously, you know it’s been very tough, you know the guys well. The guys were always part of my life. I always live for them anyway. They are part of my DNA. I’m a loyal soldier; these guys are part of my army. I always live for my friends and family regardless. But now it just emphasises the importance of being a second son to their Mums.

“But all of my team play a big part in support as it is an emotional time. It hurts even thinking about it. But if I put my personal life to one side, I just want to get better as a fighter. I still think I have so many mountains to climb, which keeps me busy in the gym.”

It has been a difficult period for Joshua, but it appears all roads will now lead to a long-awaited blockbuster with Tyson Fury.

A clash with the ‘Gypsy King’ would be Joshua’s most significant, and a chance to end an age-old rivalry and cement long-term bragging rights.

Meeting Fury has been a long-term objective for Joshua, but the finer details of the bout are still yet to get over the line.

And AJ has admitted he would rather the bout be in the UK, but is happy to let decisions be made beyond his control.

He continued: “Saturday is my world championship fight, I get the victory then I get my promotion.

“I am going to talk to my team, but it will likely be in the final quarter of the year.

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BOXING

Anthony Joshua weighs in 7.6lbs heavier than his previous fight vs Jake Paul ahead of Kristian Prenga bout

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Anthony Joshua VS Kristian Prenga

Anthony Joshua weighed in 7.6lbs heavier than his last fight against Jake Paul, as the British boxer prepares to face Kristian Prenga on Saturday night in Jeddah.

Joshua took to the scales on Friday at 251lbs, having weighed 243.4lbs when he beat YouTube boxer Paul in December 2025.

Anthony Joshua VS Kristian Prenga

Albanian Prenga scaled 261.4lbs, 10.4lbs heavier than Joshua.

The heaviest Joshua has ever been for a fight is 255.4lbs when he defeated Jermaine Franklin in April 2023.

“We’re feeling good. It’s going down tomorrow night in Jeddah,” Joshua said to DAZN Boxing.

Anthony Joshua

The weigh-in came after Tyson Fury claimed a seventh-round TKO victory over Mariusz Wach in Thailand.

Fury said that he had ‘got through’ his test but was doubtful that Joshua would overcome tomorrow night’s opponent, Prenga.

The 35-year-old Albanian will be a formidable opponent for Joshua, with Prenga having lost only once in his 21-fight career, having claimed each of his last 16 victories via knock-out or TKO.

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BOXING

Ready to ‘conquer Earth’ – Joshua embraces comeback spotlight

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Anthony Joshua

A relaxed Anthony Joshua laughed with reporters, thanked fans for making the trip and even encouraged a sizeable Albanian contingent to bring their “energy” for the British heavyweight’s comeback fight in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

Anthony Joshua and Kristian Prenga

Joshua, 36, faces Albanian puncher Kristian Prenga in his first fight since the car crash in Nigeria last December which claimed the lives of two of his closest friends and members of his team, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.

Victory would move Joshua to the brink of an all-British heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury, as long as ‘The Gypsy King’ also wins his warm-up fight against Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday.

“We’ve been working since January, working hard, keeping my head down and aligning all my stars,” Joshua said at Thursday’s news conference in Jeddah.

“I’m fully focused. I understand there’s a big picture. The goal is to conquer the universe, right? But first we must conquer Earth. And this is my target here.”

Anthony Joshua

The Watford fighter stopped Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami just 10 days before the fatal crash.

But Joshua has not beaten an established heavyweight since getting the better of Otto Wallin in December 2023.

Prenga, now based in New Jersey, has won 20 pro bouts by knockout and lost once, but the 35-year-old has not faced anyone close to Joshua’s level.

His manager Keith Sullivan described the contest as a “real-life Rocky moment”, while Prenga predicted he would win by knockout.

Joshua smiled when asked whether he believed that was possible.

“Can he knock me out? I really don’t believe it,” Joshua said. “But only God knows that.

Joshua focused despite Fury anticipation

Joshua has often presented as a guarded figure during fight weeks, frequently sitting through media duties and offering little.

Anthony Joshua VS Kristian Prenga

This time, he appeared noticeably more relaxed. The headphones he regularly wears were gone, he exchanged jokes with the host about wearing a blazer in the sweltering Jeddah heat, and he saluted supporters as he took his seat on stage.

“I’ve been in the ring with some of the quickest heavyweights, some of the fittest heavyweights. I’ve fought some of the strongest heavyweights,” said Joshua, whose career record shows 29 victories – 26 inside the distance – and four defeats.

“I’ve fought contenders. I’ve fought champions. I’ve been knocked down. I’ve been knocked out. I stand strong today and I’m ready for the challenge one million per cent.”

When an Albanian supporter weighed in with a shout of “You ain’t ready”, Joshua replied: “We’re going to find out on Saturday and I want to hear your voice shouting. I want that energy in the ring.”

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BOXING

Joshua makes ring return after friends’ deaths

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Anthony Joshua

British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua will make his ring return in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday (today) against Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga, his first fight since a car crash in Nigeria in December claimed the lives of two of his closest friends and members of his team, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga

The bout, to be held at the 40,000-seat Jeddah Superdome, will mark Joshua’s first outing since he stopped American boxer-turned-influencer Jake Paul in Miami ten days before the fatal crash, and his first competitive fight since a knockout defeat to IBF world champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.

The Jeddah Superdome previously hosted Joshua’s 2022 rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, billed as “Rage on the Red Sea,” in which the Ukrainian retained his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO titles on a split decision.

Ahead of the fight, Joshua, aged 36, has struck a notably more relaxed tone than in previous fight weeks, telling reporters at Thursday’s news conference in Jeddah that he had been working hard since January to align his preparations.

Anthony Joshua

“We have been working since January, working hard, keeping my head down and aligning all my stars. I am fully focused. I understand there is a big picture. The goal is to conquer the universe, right? But first we must conquer Earth, and this is my target here,” he said.

Joshua has also spoken candidly about still coming to terms with the deaths of Ghami, his rehabilitation coach of more than ten years, and Ayodele, his personal trainer and close friend, saying he has chosen to keep his mind occupied rather than let the grief take hold.

“It is tough, every time I think about it, it hurts. If I stop, you let it sink in, and I am not ready for it to sink in yet,” he told the BBC in the build-up to the fight.

A win for Joshua is expected to set up a long-awaited domestic showdown with fellow Briton Tyson Fury, after the Gypsy King succeeded in his own warm-up assignment.

Fury delivered his end of the bargain on Friday, stopping 46-year-old Polish veteran Mariusz Wach by technical knockout in the seventh round in Pattaya, Thailand, in a contest that was not broadcast live and watched by 1,500 spectators.

It was Fury’s second win in as many fights this year following a sixteen-month lay-off, and sets up the prospect of the Battle of Britain bout being finalised in the coming months.

 promoter, Eddie Hearn, had earlier dismissed suggestions from Fury that the fight might not materialise, insisting that only defeat or injury this weekend could derail the bout, which is expected to take place in November. “What fight has AJ ever pulled out of? Do not forget, AJ has not only fought every contender he could have, he also previously signed to fight Tyson Fury, who pulled out of the fight because of an arbitration ruling involving Deontay Wilder. The only thing that is going to stop the fight from happening in November is if one of these guys gets beat this weekend or picks up an injury,” Hearn said.

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BOXING

How Anthony Joshua sets targets for Fury ahead of return

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Anthony Joshua and Tyson fury

British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua has begun preparing for a fight with Tyson Fury by training with a specially made heavy bag replica of the Gypsy King, ahead of both men’s tune-up bouts this weekend.

Joshua and Fury have signed contracts to finally settle a decade’s worth of debate over a domestic showdown, but must first come through separate warm-up assignments, with Joshua facing Kristian Prenga on Saturday in Jeddah and Fury taking on 46-year-old veteran Mariusz Wach in Thailand.

Anthony Joshua

Joshua’s first-ever boxing coach, Sean Murphy, unveiled the bespoke bag and told DAZN it had been designed specifically to resemble Fury, describing it as reproducing the Gypsy King’s chin for practice purposes.

Murphy said Joshua had provided all the bags currently hanging in the gym and had personally funded other refurbishments at the facility, including new ring covers and an overhaul of the female changing room.

Joshua, aged 36, has vowed never to overlook an opponent again after being stunned by Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019 while he had one eye on a prospective fight with Deontay Wilder, though with his Fury deal now signed, he is being careful not to look past Prenga.

The Saturday bout will be Joshua’s first contest since a car accident claimed the lives of two of his close friends, and comes ten days after he stopped Jake Paul in a heavily anticipated crossover fight.

Joshua is expected to dedicate victory over Prenga to his late friends as he continues plotting a route towards the long-awaited Battle of Britain with Fury, aged 37.

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BOXING

Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua: The Gypsy King casts doubt on fight with AJ ahead of Mariusz Wach bout in Thailand

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Anthony Joshua And Tyson Fury

Tyson Fury has revealed his doubts about fighting Anthony Joshua later this year despite both sides signing contracts; both heavyweights are in action this week with Fury fighting on Friday in Thailand and Joshua on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.

Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have traded insults as fresh doubts were raised about their long-awaited showdown this year.

Fury returns against Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday before Joshua has a comeback fight against Kristian Prenga on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.

Tyson Fury

The British rivals were expected to finally face each other in November, with a date and venue yet to be announced, but Fury insists he is prepared to fight “somebody else” later this year.

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BOXING

Mistery Pre-fight Joshua not ready for death of friends to sink in

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Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua says he is not ready for the loss of his two close friends and team members to “sink in yet” as he prepares for his first fight since their death.

Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele died when the vehicle they were travelling in, alongside heavyweight boxer Joshua and another passenger, collided with a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos, Nigeria, on 29 December 2025.

Joshua, who sustained minor injuries, is set to return to the ring against heavyweight Kristian Prenga on Saturday for his first contest since knocking out American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul 10 days before the crash.

Anthony Joshua

The 36-year-old told BBC Sport: “It’s tough, every time I think about it, it hurts.

“Even talking about it now… pictures… it hurts but I keep my mind occupied you know.

“If I stop, you let it sink in and I’m not ready for it to sink in yet.”

Ghami was Joshua’s full-time sport and exercise rehabilitation coach and worked with him for more than 10 years.

Hours before the crash, Joshua posted a video on Instagram of him playing table tennis with his long-time friend Ayodele, a personal trainer.

Anthony Joshua

Prenga will be Joshua’s first competitive fight since his knockout loss to IBF world champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.

The former world champion admitted to feeling a “little bit nervous” before his return.

“It’s competition at the highest level,” he added.

“I want to perform for my team, I want to make them proud and make myself proud.

“It’s a balance of nerves but I understand what my job is. [I have] a lot of understanding and clarity on what I have to do.”

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BOXING

Grief has inspired fighters before: Can Anthony Joshua thrive despite tragedy?

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Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua makes an emotional return to the ring on July 25, his first fight since he was injured in a car crash that killed two of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, in Nigeria on Dec. 29.

Anthony Joshua

Grief from personal loss has inspired boxers to produce some incredible performances. As Joshua approaches the first of two planned fights in 2026, the question is whether he can do the same.

Joshua’s nontitle bout against Albanian Kristian Prenga (20-1, 20 KOs) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is a warmup for his planned fight against fellow former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (35-2-1, 24 KOs) later this year. The fight against Prenga will also be the first time Joshua faces a serious opponent in nearly two years.

Before Joshua’s dismantling of YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December, his last performance was a Round 5 KO loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) will be 37 years old by the time he fights Fury, but grief has motivated boxers to achieve great feats, and the two-time champion has recently been training with the best heavyweight in the world, Oleksandr Usyk.

Sports like boxing can help to deal with personal tragedy and trauma, according to Psychology Today, by reconnecting to life through physical activity.

Anthony Joshua

“Boxing is not only good for the competitive side of things; it’s quite therapeutic,” Joshua said in June. “It gives me a purpose in my life. I’m content.”

As well as suffering, boxers have also found that grief can be motivational and the pursuit of titles a way of dealing with the loss of someone close.

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BOXING

Joshua: ‘Fury can wait until I beat Prenga

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Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua says Tyson Fury will have to wait before any face-to-face moment between the two, insisting the Gypsy King can only step into the ring once he has beaten Kristian Prenga on July 25, in Jeddah, reports britishboxingnews.co.uk.

Anthony Joshua VS Kristian Prenga

Joshua explained that he ignored an earlier invitation from Fury because their proposed showdown still isn’t signed, despite months of public negotiation.

“If he wants to come in the ring when I win July 25th, feel welcome. Come into my territory. I’m the landlord. I’m going to welcome you into my home. You don’t welcome me into your home,” Joshua told DAZN Boxing.

Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury

The 36-year-old is coming off a sixth-round win over Jake Paul last December and has made it clear Prenga is his full focus right now, even with the Fury fight sitting close behind it.

Here’s some context worth knowing. Fury faces his own routine fight first, taking on Mariusz Wach on July 24 in Thailand, a day before Joshua’s fight in Jeddah. Both bouts are widely viewed as final tune-ups before the two British heavyweights finally meet later this year.

Joshua meets Prenga on July 25 in Jeddah, with the Fury fight still to be signed once both results are in.

 

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Anthony Joshua vs Moses Itauma bigger than ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ if staged in Nigeria, says promoter Dr Ezekiel Adamu

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Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma

Anthony Joshua would attract massive interest if he fought Moses Itauma in Nigeria, says Nigerian promoter Dr Ezekiel Adamu; Joshua is preparing to fight Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia this month while Moses Itauma faces Flip Hrgovic at The O2 in London in August.

A “blockbuster fight” between Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma in Nigeria would create more global interest than Muhammad Ali’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’, says promoter Dr Ezekiel Adamu.

Anthony Joshua

The British heavyweight stars currently have their own plans as Joshua returns against Kristian Prenga later this month before an expected all-British battle with Tyson Fury, while Itauma faces Filip Hrgovic on August 29

But Adamu believes Joshua and Itauma, who both have Nigerian heritage, could surpass Ali’s legendary fight with George Foreman in Zaire [former name of DR Congo], if they both shared the ring in Nigeria.

Moses Itauma

“It’s a global fight. We’ll get some huge numbers when it comes to viewership,” Adamu told Sky Sports.

“When you think about Africa as a whole, we have about 1.4 billion people in Africa. And then 70 to 75 per cent of that population between the ages of 15 to 30 or thereabouts. Having those eyeballs on it as well too is major.

“And then both of them are global stars. So it’s a perfect story in Africa, where they come from, from their roots.

“It’s one fight that will actually top the Rumble in the Jungle we’ve been talking about for about 50 years.

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