Retirement claims spark confusion

Speculation about Anthony Joshua’s future intensified after comments published by the Nigerian newspaper PUNCH. According to PUNCH, a man identifying himself as Joshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, claimed the boxer had already retired from the sport.

He was quoted by PUNCH as saying, “The major thing there is that he has retired from boxing,” adding that the family felt emotional strain whenever Joshua fought.

Those remarks quickly gained traction, fueling online debate about whether the former two time heavyweight champion would ever return to the ring.

Joshua camp rejects the claim

That narrative has since been challenged by reporting in the UK. According to Daily Mail Sport, individuals close to Joshua insist he has no plans to retire and that Adedamola Joshua does not speak for him or represent his interests in any official capacity.

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Daily Mail Sport also reported that Joshua’s representatives declined to comment when contacted, but privately dismissed the retirement suggestion as inaccurate.

Crash that changed the conversation

The speculation followed a serious road accident in Nigeria that killed two of Joshua’s close friends. According to Daily Mail Sport, the crash occurred last week on the Lagos Ibadan Expressway near Makun.

Joshua survived the collision, but Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele were killed. Reporting from Daily Mail Sport said Joshua narrowly avoided death after switching seats inside the SUV shortly before impact.

The vehicle later struck a stationary truck transporting soya beans.

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Legal consequences unfold

The SUV was driven by Adeniyi Kayode, 47. According to Daily Mail Sport, Kayode has since appeared before a magistrate in Sagamu facing multiple charges, including dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, and driving without a valid license.

If convicted, he could face a life sentence under Nigerian law.

Joshua and Kayode both escaped without serious physical injuries.

Grief, mourning, and recovery

In the days following the crash, Joshua attended the funerals of Ghami and Ayodele in Nigeria. He later shared a photograph on Instagram showing family members gathered together, one holding a framed image of Ghami.

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He captioned the post, “My Brothers Keeper,” a phrase commonly used to express responsibility and loyalty toward loved ones.

According to Daily Mail Sport, Joshua returned to the UK last Friday, arriving at London Stansted Airport, and has been recovering at home since.

A career paused, not finished

Before the crash, Joshua had been widely expected to pursue a long anticipated heavyweight bout against Tyson Fury later this year. While the emotional and physical impact of the accident may delay his return, current reporting offers no indication that his boxing career is over.

For now, the focus appears to be on recovery and mourning rather than retirement.

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Sources: Daily Mail Sport, PUNCH

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