Anthony Joshua v Kristian Prenga: British heavyweight boxer not ready to move on from death of friends

Anthony Joshua says he is not ready to “get used to it yet” with the loss of two close friends and team members as he prepares for his first fight since their deaths.

Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, along with heavyweight boxer Joshua and another passenger, were killed when the vehicle they were traveling in collided with a stationary truck on a main road near Lagos, Nigeria, on December 29, 2026.

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

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

“Just talking about it right now… the pictures… it hurts, but you know, I’m keeping my mind busy.

“If I stop, you’ll let him come inside you, and I’m not ready for him to sink inside you yet.”

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

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

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 feeling “a bit nervous” ahead of his return.

“This is competition at the highest level,” he added.

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

“It’s a matter of nerve balance, but I understand what my job is. [I have] “There’s a lot of understanding and clarity about what I need to do.”