Eddie Hearn believes boxing will “save” Anthony Joshua again following the death of his two close friends last month.
Hearn met with Joshua for the first time last week since the 36-year-old was involved in a horror car crash in Nigeria in December which took the lives of Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele – two of his closes friends and team members.
The crash, which left ‘AJ’ in hospital with minor injuries, came just 10 days after his sixth round knockout of Jake Paul in Miami.
The Watford man was discharged from hospital a few days after the crash and returned to the UK to attend the funerals of Ayodele and Ghami.
Hearn has promoted Joshua from his professional debut back in 2013 and the two-time heavyweight champion penned a deal with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing in 2021 to remain with the company until the end of his career.
The Matchroom Chairman has praised his charge for the courage he’s shown through such a devastating period.
“I was with him last week,” Hearn told Ariel Helwani Show.
“He’s a remarkable man of strength.
“We were in the same house that he lived with those guys and even I was sat there thinking I remember a few months ago we were sitting at that table talking about life.
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“After the Jake Paul fight, he was on such a high.
“Last year was painful for him, coming off the defeat to Dubois.
“Just seeing him so happy after the Jake Paul fight, and then that happens, it’s devastating.
“He will show that strength because he’s that type of guy.
“His strength is incredible.”
Joshua was expected to fight in February in Riyadh before finally facing the retuning Tyson Fury later this year, but plans are naturally unknown given the situation.
‘AJ’ has previously credited boxing for saving him from going down the wrong path and Hearn believes the sport is a key part of his life and expects him to continue his career.
“He’s training with his injuries,” Hearn added.
“He’s focused.
“He’s an inspiration.
“I think boxing is a massive part of his life and so is training.
“It almost feels like, being with him recently, boxing saved him and it will probably save him again.
“I think he will fight on, and I think he’ll do it in their honour, but it’s not going to be easy.”
