Joshua returns to gym for 'mental strength therapy' after fatal crash in Nigeria

[p]The British fighter was a passenger in a Lexus SUV that collided with a stationary truck on a busy highway linking Lagos and Ibadan in Nigeria on December 29th.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/joshua-anthony/WnlqLAvo/"]Joshua[/a]'s backroom team members Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami died in the crash, while the boxer sustained minor injuries.[/p][p]Although his promoter warned he could be out of action for some time, the boxer shared online footage of himself hitting pads with a trainer on Thursday.[/p][p]Joshua captioned the clip, which he posted on Instagram, "Mental Strength Therapy".[/p][p]The crash sparked speculation as to whether Joshua will box again, but promoter Eddie Hearn said Wednesday the 36-year-old would be given all the time he needed to cope with the loss of Ayodele and Ghami.[/p][embed guid="607272e1-863c-4364-aeba-828b6d0ed282" url="https://x.com/i/status/2011961513930613200" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"I think AJ, as we have seen in the past on boxing-related stuff, is always a brave-face guy, a very positive guy,"[/b] Hearn told [i]Sky Sports[/i].[/p][p][b]"This is very different to that and I know he will take his time.[/b][/p][p][b]"He will need his time physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually before he makes a decision on his future. I do think he will want to return to boxing, but that will be his decision when the time is right."[/b][/p][p]The crash happened while Joshua was on holiday in Nigeria following his win against YouTuber-turned-boxer [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paul-jake/6XLCxtih/"]Jake Paul[/a] in Miami on December 19th.[/p][p]Both Ayodele, the personal trainer of the former two-time unified heavyweight champion, and Ghami, Joshua's strength and conditioning coach, died at the scene of the crash.[/p][p]Before the accident, there was fresh talk of a long-awaited bout between Joshua and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fury-tyson/MDZyQvA1/"]Tyson Fury[/a], the former world heavyweight champion who recently came out of retirement.[/p][p]But Hearn said Wednesday: [b]"That is not a conversation that anyone is comfortable having... When the time is right, I believe he will make his decision and you will hear it from him."[/b][/p]