Eddie Hearn, a prominent British boxing promoter, has asserted that it is entirely up to former heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua to determine when he feels ready to step back into the boxing ring.
On December 29, Joshua found himself in a car accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that tragically resulted in the deaths of two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif "Latz" Ayodele, while leaving Joshua with injuries.
Originally from Watford and of Nigerian heritage, Joshua had been enjoying a holiday in Nigeria following his victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami, where he secured a sixth-round knockout win on December 19.
In a discussion with BBC Sport, Hearn highlighted the necessity for Joshua to achieve a complete recovery on multiple fronts—mental, physical, emotional—before contemplating his future in boxing.
"He will need time to recover physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually before he makes any decision about his future in the sport. I believe he will eventually want to return to boxing, but that’s a choice he will make when he feels it is appropriate," Hearn remarked.
Hearn stressed that the current priority should be on Joshua's health and well-being, rather than his professional plans.
"The only thing we should be discussing is, ‘Are you okay?’ What he has endured is not typical and is heartbreaking for everyone involved. When he's ready, I am confident he will announce his decision, and it will be his voice that bears the weight of that announcement,” Hearn added.
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