Oleksandr Usyk, the reigning heavyweight boxing champion, has shown his support for fellow boxer Anthony Joshua as he contemplates a return to the sport following the unfortunate deaths of his friends in a car accident.
It is important to note that last month, the British-Nigerian athlete was involved in a collision that claimed the lives of two of his close friends.
During the incident, Joshua was a passenger in a black Lexus that collided with a parked truck on the Makun section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Usyk, who has competed against Joshua in both 2021 and 2022, stated he has been in contact with his longtime friend and opponent since the tragic events in Nigeria, and he has faith that Joshua will choose not to retire.
Joshua faced the heartbreaking loss of Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, who were not only close friends but also vital members of his team, and there were concerns that he might shy away from boxing again.
Usyk opened up about a heartfelt conversation with the 36-year-old boxer and remarked in an interview: 'I've already talked with him [Joshua].'
'I sensed a desire to keep going in his voice — for the friends he lost and for the life that he has been granted by the Lord.'
He recounted a touching moment with the mother of one of his deceased friends, who told him, "Oleksandr, he would be incredibly proud that you are continuing your efforts; he will be watching you from heaven."
Usyk added, 'And I believe he is doing just that. Moreover, all my dear ones who have died defending our country. They are my guiding souls supporting me within the ring.'
Joshua had been preparing for an anticipated fight against Tyson Fury this year, but those plans appear to have been postponed. Promoter Eddie Hearn suggested that Joshua might take a break from the sport.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Hearn said: 'He will need time to heal physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually before he makes any decisions about his future.'
'While I sincerely think he will want to return to boxing, that's a choice he has to make when he feels the time is appropriate.'
Hearn continued, 'It's undoubtedly not a conversation I'll initiate with him soon. The focus now is simply on asking, "Are you okay?"'
He remarked, 'At times, we find individuals who project an image of being fine, but what happened to him is unprecedented and heartbreaking for everyone involved.'
Earlier this week, Joshua shared a video of himself training in Dubai, captioning it: 'Mental strength therapy.'
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!