Anthony Joshua says he is not ready for the loss of his friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele to sink in as he prepares for his upcoming fight against Kristian Prenga.

Heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua is preparing for his first fight since the death of two close friends and team members in a vehicle collision near Lagos, Nigeria, on December 29, 2025. Joshua, who sustained minor injuries in the crash, is scheduled to face Kristian Prenga this Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The 36-year-old athlete stated he is keeping his mind occupied to avoid processing the loss of his colleagues.

The impact of the loss

The crash involved a vehicle carrying Joshua, two other passengers, and his friends Sina Ghami and Latif "Latz" Ayodele, which collided with a stationary truck. Ghami, who served as Joshua's full-time sport and exercise rehabilitation coach for over a decade, and Ayodele, a personal trainer, were both killed. Joshua noted that he is not yet ready for the reality of their deaths to sink in, explaining that he remains focused on his professional responsibilities to cope.

Upcoming fight and future prospects

Joshua’s bout against Prenga follows his knockout victory over Jake Paul in December 2025. The former world champion expressed feeling nervous but clear about his objectives for the upcoming match. If both Joshua and Tyson Fury win their respective upcoming fights—Fury is scheduled to face Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday—a long-awaited "Battle of Britain" bout between the two is expected to take place later this year.