Anthony Joshua is back; “The mission must go on, that’s my duty”
Speaking publicly after months of silence
According to GiveMeSport journalist Calum Ritchie, Anthony Joshua has spoken on camera for the first time since the December car crash that claimed the lives of his childhood friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. The incident, which took place in Lagos, also left the former world heavyweight champion injured and prompted him to step back from public life.
Joshua’s comments represent a rare and personal account of the aftermath, offering a clearer picture of how the tragedy has reshaped his thinking about both life and boxing.
A tragedy that shaped his inner circle
GiveMeSport reported that the two men killed in the crash were central figures in Joshua’s life long before his rise in professional boxing. After returning to the United Kingdom, funerals for Ghami and Ayodele were held on January 4 at a mosque in London.
Now 36, Joshua described the loss as something that cut through every part of his world, from personal relationships to business and daily routine.
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“That was such an unforeseen circumstance that was out of all of our control. And not only did their parents, their uncles, their cousins, their friends and myself, lose two great men. We lost people that we really care about have been major players in all of our lives, major, major players in all of our lives. It's tough. It's really tough.”
Boxing framed as responsibility rather than escape
The scale of the loss inevitably led to questions about whether Joshua would continue his career. Alongside the emotional toll, the crash created physical challenges that added further uncertainty to his future in the ring.
Joshua did not announce a return, but he made clear that walking away is not something he currently sees as the answer. Instead, he described boxing as part of a wider sense of duty rooted in shared history and obligation.
“I know what my duty is. They were my brothers, my friends, first and foremost. Then we became business partners, we became hustlers, we became generals, we became everything. We became housemates, who were living together."
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“I’ve lost people before, but I don’t think I’ve lost people like that, my left and my right."
“The mission must go on… I understand my duty.”
Retirement questions surfaced before Joshua spoke
Long before Anthony Joshua addressed the tragedy himself, doubts about his future in boxing were already circulating. According to beIN SPORTS journalist Miguel Calixto, those questions intensified in early January when Joshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, publicly suggested that the family believed his nephew might step away from the sport following the accident in Nigeria.
Speaking at the time, Joshua’s uncle described the emotional toll boxing has taken on the family over the years and indicated that his nephew had considered leaving while still at the top.
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“Every time he gets knocked down, it feels like our hearts come out of our chests. All those emotions every time he fights are extremely traumatic for us as well. Now that he has said he’s leaving while the applause is at its loudest, we are happy,” he said.
Joshua himself remained silent following those comments, allowing speculation to grow.
A promise beyond the ring
Joshua also addressed what comes after the headlines, speaking about his determination to support the families left behind. He emphasised that the responsibility is collective and ongoing, not symbolic.
“My goal is to help their families and to help them achieve their goals, even though they may not be here in the physical. I will be saying my prayers, and I'm going to help them fulfill their dreams for their families. It's not only me though helping. There's a whole team working on that stuff.”
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Sources: GiveMeSport
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