WHY ANTHONY JOSHUA’S RESILIENCE PROVES HE IS STILL THE PEOPLE’S TRUE CHAMPION
Anthony Joshua shares a poignant "My Brother's Keeper" tribute after the fatal car crash in Nigeria. Read the latest on AJ's recovery.
Anthony Joshua has spoken out for the first time since a deadly car crash in Nigeria left him injured and claimed the lives of two of his close friends and team members.
He’s now back in the UK, preparing to attend the funerals of Sina Ghami, his strength and conditioning coach, and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, another key member of his training team.
Both men died on Monday after their car slammed into a parked truck on a busy road near Lagos.
Joshua, pulled from the wreckage in intense pain, ended up in the hospital but was released on Wednesday.
On Sunday, the former two-time unified world heavyweight champ posted two photos on Instagram with the caption “My Brother’s Keeper.” In the images, he sits with his mother and three other women. One of them holds a photo of Ghami.
On Friday, police in Ogun State confirmed that Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, the driver during the crash, faced charges at the Sagamu Magistrate Court.
Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps blamed the crash on speeding and a failed overtaking attempt. But the state police commissioner later told ESPN that a burst tyre caused the driver to lose control and smash into the stationary truck.
Joshua, born in Watford to Nigerian parents, was vacationing in Nigeria after his knockout win over Jake Paul in Miami back in December.
Joshua was looking to return to the ring in February, most likely in Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh Season’s Turki Alalshikh floating the idea of a 2026 fight against his old British rival, Tyson Fury.
Fury, who retired in 2024 after losing twice to Oleksandr Usyk (who also beat Joshua twice), has since announced his own comeback.
He posted on Instagram, “2026 is that year. Return of the Mac. Been away for a while, but I’m back now, 37 years old and still punching. Nothing better to do than punch men in the face and get paid for it.”
Fury also reached out to Joshua, offering his condolences for Ghami and Ayodele. “This is so sad,” he wrote, sharing a tribute to Joshua’s late teammates. “May God give them a good bed in heaven.”
Later, Fury posted an old video interview with Joshua, adding, “Thoughts & prayers with AJ and the families who have lost.”
ANALYSIS: RELENTLESS AGIT KABAYEL CRUSHES DAMIAN KNYBA IN THREE ROUNDS TO SIGNAL USYK WARNING
The Rudolf Weber Arena erupted as Agit Kabayel overcame a bloody cut to stop the "Polish Hussar" in a three-round thriller.
The Rudolf Weber Arena was packed, and nobody left disappointed. Agit Kabayel tore through Damian Knyba in just three rounds, sending the crowd home buzzing.
Kabayel came in as the heavy favourite, but Knyba didn’t roll over. For two rounds, he made Kabayel work, landing some big shots and showing he was there to fight. But in the third, Kabayel just overwhelmed him. The Germans’ pressure was too much, and Knyba couldn’t keep him off.
Right from the opening bell, both guys wanted to make a statement. Knyba used his reach, slinging hooks and landing a huge uppercut late in the first. His long frame gave Kabayel a clear target, though, and Kabayel’s known for his body shots. Still, Knyba drew first blood, opening a cut over Kabayel’s right eye.
Knyba seemed fired up. He kept Kabayel at range, pumping out jabs and circling away, making life tough for the favourite. Kabayel struggled to work around Knyba’s reach.
But in the third, things changed. Kabayel got that look—steady, relentless. Knyba started to fade, and Kabayel went to work. He opened a cut by Knyba’s left eye, hammered the body, and just poured it on. Knyba looked spent after a shot to the ribs, then took a series of rights before the ref stepped in.
Now Kabayel is 27-0 with 19 knockouts and holding the WBC interim belt. He’s got options. Lawrence Okolie, the WBC’s top contender, watched from ringside, eager for a shot. But Kabayel’s eyes are on Oleksandr Usyk and the full title. Knyba drops to 17-1 (11 KOs).
Afterwards, Kabayel soaked in the moment. “It’s unbelievable; look at the crowd. So many people came to support me,” he said, grinning. “Every fight in Germany. Let’s go.”
The fans wanted Usyk next
“I waited so long for this title opportunity; I beat three monsters in the Riyadh Season—Makhmudov, Zhang, and Sanchez. Give me the world title fight. I’m ready.”
When someone asked if Usyk could be tempted to Germany for a stadium fight, Kabayel’s manager, Spencer Brown, didn’t hesitate. “I think we can, yes.”
JESSE BAM RODRIGUEZ ENTERS FREE AGENCY FOLLOWING MASSIVE RIYADH KNOCKOUT WIN
Jesse Bam Rodriguez targets an undisputed status after knocking out Martínez. Hear why Eddie Hearn expects him to stay at Matchroom.
Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez just keeps climbing. Right now, he’s the lineal and unified super flyweight champ, and his last fight showed why. On November 22, 2025, in Riyadh, he stepped into the ring against the tough WBA champion Fernando Martínez (18-1, 9 KOs). Bam boxed smart, moved beautifully, and made Martínez miss all night. By the 10th round, he was still in total control, and then he finished it—caught Martínez with a counter left hook and dropped him hard. Martínez couldn’t get up, and that was it. Bam added the WBA belt to his WBC and WBO collection.
Now, word’s out—Bam’s a promotional free agent. Eddie Hearn talked to Rob Tebbutt at the Sportsman to clear things up about Bam’s contract.
Hearn explained, “We’ve got some matching and negotiation options on him, but honestly, I’m not too worried. We’re working with Robert Garcia and Jesse to go after the undisputed championship. There’s a lot going on—the IBF belt and Willibaldo Garcia, who just pulled out of a fight, and now he has to face Maloney. So, there’s a bit of a mess to sort out. We have to keep Maloney happy, Bam happy, and Willibaldo Garcia happy—it’s tricky, but we want to do something big for Bam at the Alamodome. Sure, things can change, but I see Bam sticking with Matchroom for the rest of his career.”
Hearn didn’t hide how much Bam means to the team: “He’s huge for us, personally and as a business. We’ve looked after him and paid him well—he’s earned every bit of it. The new deal on the table is big money. He’s one of the top fighters in the sport.”
Is Bam moving up to 118 soon? Hearn said, “Maybe. If he doesn’t get the undisputed fight, he’ll move up. The thing is, Maloney’s about to fight Garcia for not much money, but he could be on the undercard, make a nice payday, and get a guaranteed shot at the winner. Sometimes you have to put the emotion aside and just make the right business move.”
Matchroom has done right by Jesse Bam Rodriguez so far, and Hearn sounds pretty sure they’re not done yet.