British heavyweight Anthony Joshua has returned to the gym, marking a step forward in his recovery after a tragic car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close friends and team members.

The 36-year-old former world champion sustained minor injuries in the accident on 29 December, which killed Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele when their vehicle collided with a stationary truck near Lagos.

Nineteen days after the incident, Joshua shared a video on Snapchat showing him hitting pads and working out, with the words “mental strength therapy” displayed on one clip. The training comes less than a month after he defeated Jake Paul in Miami on 19 December, just days before the tragedy.

In a heartfelt tribute last week, Joshua reflected on the loss of Ghami and Ayodele on Instagram, writing:

“I didn’t even realise how special they are. I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. 100% it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports that Joshua will return to boxing “when the time is right”, emphasizing that the fighter needs space to recover physically, mentally, and emotionally. He said:

“The only conversation is ‘are you OK?’ … what happened to him is not normal and heartbreaking for all involved. When the time is right, I believe he will make his decision and you will hear it from him.”

Joshua’s return to the gym signals his determination to heal and find new strength, even as he mourns the loss of his close friends.