Anthony Joshua eyes return to boxing at 40 after personal tragedy
Anthony Joshua has revealed he could continue boxing until the age of 40 despite enduring one of the most painful periods of his life following the deaths of two close friends, reports BritPanorama.
The former two-time heavyweight world champion has opened up about his future in the sport while coming to terms with the tragic loss of Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, who died in a horrific car crash in Nigeria last year. Joshua, who was involved in the accident himself, escaped with rib injuries but was left devastated by the deaths of two men he considered brothers.
Despite the trauma, the 36-year-old insists retirement is not on the horizon and believes boxing remains a crucial part of his life. Speaking about his future plans, Joshua admitted he can see himself remaining active in the ring for another three years. “I think I might go on until 40,” he said. “I am 37 in October, so it’s only three years, it goes quick. Obviously it’s going to be tough, but I definitely think I’m tough enough to do it.”
The revelation comes after Joshua signed a two-fight agreement that will see him return to action against Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on July 25. A long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury is also being targeted before the end of the year, should both fighters come through their respective commitments.
While Joshua remains fully committed to his boxing career, he admitted the loss of Ghami and Ayodele has changed his outlook. “It’s not about being ‘more’ anything, it’s different,” he explained. However, Joshua has shifted his focus to supporting the families left behind. “It’s not about me,” he said. “I make it about them and the mums and dads of the two boys.”
Joshua was recently present at York Hall alongside the mothers of both men as members of the boxing community gathered to celebrate their lives. He expressed how the support shown by fighters who knew the pair was moving. “The boys were loved and there’s a few of us boxers who knew Latz and Sina,” he said. “It’s all love and that’s really good to see from my perspective.”
Joshua also conveyed that boxing continues to provide an important sense of direction as he navigates the aftermath of the tragedy. “This is my purpose,” he stated, highlighting the therapeutic nature of the sport. “It gives us purpose and us fighters need purpose and that’s what it does for me. I think, I KNOW, that this is the place where I’m most comfortable.”
Prepared for his return, Joshua believes he is in a strong place physically and mentally ahead of what he describes as one of the biggest years of his career. The narrative of struggle and resilience in sport often resonates deeply, and for Joshua, the upcoming bouts could serve not only as professional stakes but personal milestones in a remarkable journey of recovery.
