Anthony Joshua stated he never considered walking away from boxing, even after the tragic car crash that claimed the lives of two close friends. The incident, which occurred late last year near Lagos, Nigeria, resulted in the deaths of Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, both 36, who were part of Joshua's inner circle and served as his strength coach and personal trainer, respectively.
Joshua is set to return to the ring Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to face Kristian Prenga. This marks his first fight after a full training camp with Oleksandr Usyk's team and is seen as a significant step towards a potential bout with Tyson Fury.
"I never considered walking away, because boxing is my purpose," Joshua said. "It's not just about competing. Boxing is therapeutic as well. It gives me purpose. As fighters, that's what it gives us. When I'm boxing, I know I'm where I'm supposed to be. It's where I'm most comfortable. It gives me direction in life, and that's why I never really thought about walking away. I'm content. This is where I belong."
He discussed managing his grief by focusing on the families of his deceased friends. "Everyone deals with it differently," he explained. "For me, I have to put my own emotions to one side because I focus on the parents. My emotions can come later, but I look at what the mums and dads are going through because that's what must be hardest. I don't make it about me. I make it about them. You have to keep your own emotions under control."
Joshua also highlighted the influence of training alongside Oleksandr Usyk, particularly the importance of prayer. "The importance of prayer," Joshua stated. "Even if you're not deeply religious or don't follow one particular faith, prayer is important. It's something you can take into every training camp."
He believes his relationship with hard work has evolved, pushing himself harder in an environment where he knows he will be challenged. "You can be in one environment and think you're working hard, then you go into another environment and realize what you thought was hard actually isn't hard enough. It isn't good enough," he said. Those close to him report significant improvements in his defense and overall game, suggesting a more patient and well-rounded fighter.
While a fight with Tyson Fury is a significant prospect, Joshua emphasized that becoming a world champion remains his ultimate career goal. "It's a huge fight, but it's not for a world title, if I'm being completely honest," he stated. "It's a great achievement if I beat someone like Tyson Fury, but for me, nothing compares to becoming a world champion."
Despite acknowledging changing financial realities in boxing, Joshua remains dedicated to the sport's heritage. "There's a lot of talk nowadays about fighters saying belts don't matter anymore," he observed. "People's attitudes are changing because there are different opportunities now. But personally, the heritage and history of boxing still means everything to me. You can't beat becoming a world champion, in my opinion... Unless someone dangles a big enough carrot in front of me... then f*** the belts."
For now, Joshua's focus is on his upcoming match against Prenga, aiming to prove that he is still where he belongs: back in the ring with purpose.