Anthony Joshua vs. Christian Pringa: The English heavyweight boxer is not ready to move on from the death of his friends.

As Anthony Joshua prepares for his first fight since his death, his two best friends and teammates say they are not ready to “drown yet”.

Sina Gami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele are dead A vehicle carrying heavyweight boxer Joshua and another passenger collided with a truck parked on a highway near Lagos, Nigeria on December 29, 2026.

Joshua, who suffered a minor injury, is set to return to action on Saturday against heavyweight Christian Pringa. Knocking out American YouTube boxer Jake Paul 10 days before the accident.

The 36-year-old told BBC Sport: “It’s so hard, every time I think about it, it hurts.

“Even talking about it now…pictures…it hurts but you know, I’m out of my mind.

“If I stop you let it sink in and I’m not ready for it to sink in yet.”

Gami is Joshua’s full-time sports and fitness rehabilitation coach and has worked with him for over 10 years.

Hours before the accident, Joshua posted a video on Instagram of him playing table tennis with his longtime friend, Ayodele, a personal trainer.

Pringa will be Joshua’s first competitive fight since his knockout loss to IBF world champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.

The former world champion admitted he felt “a bit nervous” ahead of his return.

“It’s a high-level competition,” he added.

“I want to play for my team, make them proud and make myself proud.

“It’s a nervous balance, but I understand what my job is. (I have) a lot of understanding and clarity about what I have to do.”