Anthony Joshua has a ‘desire’ to keep fighting despite the tragic loss of his two friends in a car crash, according to Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk, who fought and beat AJ in 2021 and 2022, said he has spoken to his old friend and rival since the fateful day in Nigeria and believes the Brit will not retire.
Joshua lost Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami who were friends but also integral to his team and some believed he would not want to get back in the ring again.
Usyk had a heartfelt chat with the 36-year-old and told Ready to Fight: ‘I’ve already spoken with him [Joshua].
‘I heard a desire to continue in his voice – for the friends he lost and for the chance to live that the Lord gave him.
‘Once I spoke with the mother of my fallen comrade, and she told me: “Oleksandr, he would be very proud that you are continuing your work; he will watch you from heaven”.
Anthony Joshua (right) pictured with Oleksandr Usyk (left) after their 2022 rematch that the Ukrainian won. Usyk believes AJ will keep fighting after the death of his friends
Anthony Joshua pictured with friends Latif Ayodele (centre) and Sina Ghami who both died in the crash
‘And he, I think, does that. And not just him, but all my loved ones who passed away defending our country. They are my guardian angels who help me in the ring.’
Joshua had been linked with a huge showdown against Tyson Fury this year but those plans are now on the backburner and promoter Eddie Hearn thinks he could step away from the sport for a while.
He told Sky Sports: ‘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.
‘It is certainly not a conversation I’ll be having with him any time soon. The only conversation is, “Are you OK?”
‘And sometimes we find people will give that facade of being OK, but what happened to him is not normal and heartbreaking for all involved.’
Earlier this week, AJ posted a video of him training in Dubai and captioned it: ‘Mental strength therapy.’
And the former two time world champion paid an emotional tribute to his friends after the crash he miraculously escaped from with his life.
He wrote on Instagram: ‘Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers.
Joshua has returned to boxing training after a car crash that killed two of his friends
‘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.
‘I have a strong mind, and I believe God knows their hearts.
‘May God have mercy on my brothers.’
The 47-year-old driver of the car involved in the crash also survived and has been charged with reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and driving without a valid driver’s licence.
