British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua is set to return to the ring this Saturday against Kristian Prenga, marking his first fight since a devastating car accident in December 2025 that claimed the lives of two close friends and team members. Joshua, 36, has spoken candidly about the profound grief, stating he is not yet ready for the loss to 'sink in' as he channels his focus into his upcoming contest.
Sina Ghami, Joshua's full-time sport and exercise rehabilitation coach for over a decade, and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele, a personal trainer and long-time friend, both died when the vehicle they were travelling in, alongside Joshua and another passenger, collided with a stationary truck near Lagos, Nigeria. The tragic incident occurred on 29 December 2025, just ten days after Joshua had secured a knockout victory against American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
Joshua, who sustained minor injuries in the crash, told BBC Sport that the pain of their loss is constant. "It's tough, every time I think about it, it hurts," he stated, explaining his need to keep his mind occupied. "If I stop, you let it sink in and I'm not ready for it to sink in yet." Hours before the fatal accident, Joshua had posted a video on Instagram showing him playing table tennis with Ayodele.
This Saturday's fight against Albania's Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, will be Joshua's first competitive bout since his knockout loss to IBF world champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024. The former world champion admitted to feeling a "little bit nervous" ahead of his return, emphasising his desire to perform for his team and make them proud.
Beyond this weekend, a highly anticipated 'Battle of Britain' fight between Joshua and fellow Briton Tyson Fury is expected to take place later in the year, provided both boxers win their respective upcoming encounters. Fury is scheduled to face Poland's Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, on Friday, the night before Joshua's bout. Joshua declined a previous face-off invitation from Fury in April but hinted that such an encounter might be imminent, stating, "If it's not Saturday night where we face-off, it will be within the next four to six weeks."