NIGERIA: Anthony Joshua Dedicates Comeback Victory To Friends Killed In Ogun Crash

By Onoja Baba

Nigerian-British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has dedicated his comeback victory over Albanian boxer Kristian Prenga to his late friends and trainers, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, after battling back from two knockdowns to secure a second-round knockout.

The fight which took place on Saturday, marks Joshua’s first appearance in the ring since a car crash in Ogun State in December 2025 claimed the lives of Ghami, his strength and conditioning coach, and Ayodele, his personal trainer.

Joshua entered the ring wearing camouflage attire bearing the names of the deceased coaches as a tribute to their memory.

Speaking after the victory, the former world heavyweight champion said the win was inspired by the spirit of his late friends.

“It’s what champions do. We rise, we get knocked down and we stand up and keep going. That’s life.

“It was more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina and their families. It still hurts to talk about it. It’s been tough,” Joshua said.

The former world champion endured a difficult start to the contest after Prenga floored him twice within the opening three minutes of the first round.

However, Joshua recovered impressively, taking control of the fight before stopping the Albanian in the second round to record a dramatic comeback victory and stay on course for a highly anticipated showdown with fellow Briton Tyson Fury.

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, hailed the boxer’s resilience, saying his performance was remarkable considering the personal tragedy he had endured over the past seven months.

“No one can imagine what Anthony has been through in the last seven months. To even step into the ring was astonishing,” Hearn said.

He added that Joshua had channelled his grief into training and displayed exceptional determination by recovering from two early knockdowns to claim victory.

Hearn also disclosed that contracts had been signed for the long-awaited heavyweight clash between Joshua and Fury, although the date and venue for the bout have yet to be announced.

Fury, who defeated 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday, did not attend Joshua’s fight, having returned to the Isle of Man after his victory.

Reacting to the proposed clash, Joshua expressed respect for Fury’s accomplishments but insisted he was ready for what many consider one of boxing’s biggest fights.

“I respect everything he has achieved, but this is the fight we’ve been calling for and now we’re here.

“I hope the fans will enjoy it.

“I’ve learned that I can’t be stopped, I won’t be denied, and we’re coming,” Joshua said.