Oleksandr Usyk sheds light on telling conversation with Anthony Joshua after fatal car crash

Oleksandr Usyk says he ‘heard a desire to continue’ in Anthony Joshua’s voice during a conversation after the Brit survived a fatal car crash in Nigeria.

The 36-year-old’s close friends and team members – Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele and Sina Ghami – were both killed after the car they were travelling in collided with a stationary truck on a major highway just outside Lagos.

Adeniyi Orojo

AJ sustained minor injuries, and after a brief stint in hospital, he flew back to the United Kingdom.

The tragic accident came days after Joshua’s knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

Joshua had been gearing up for a big 2026, with a tune-up fight against former Glory Kickboxing heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven being eyed for February.

Providing he came out of the fight unscathed plans had been hatched for the long-awaited all-British showdown with Tyson Fury to take place later in the year.

Those conversations have since been put on hold as Joshua grieves the loss of friends, while it remains unclear if he will box ever again.

Before the crash, Joshua had linked up with Usyk‘s team to prepare for his fight with Paul – intent upon learning from the man who beat him in 2021 and 2022.

The pair have since formed a strong bond and were on the phone together soon after Joshua’s crash.

What did Usyk say about his conversation with Joshua?

“I’ve already spoken with him,” Usyk said in an interview with Ready To Fight.

“I heard a desire to continue in his voice – for the friends he lost and for the chance to live that the Lord gave him.“

Usyk considered retiring from boxing after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but he found the motivation to fight again for his fallen comrades.

“Once I spoke with the mother of my fallen comrade, and she told me, ‘Oleksandr, he would be very proud that you are continuing your work; he will watch you from heaven.’

“And he, I think, does that. And not just him, but all my loved ones who passed away defending our country.

“They are my guardian angels who help me in the ring.”

In a similar vein to Usyk, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, also expects his client to fight again.

However, he insists that no formal conversations will take place regarding AJ’s next steps until he has had time to rest and recover.

“To be honest, at this stage, it is a no comment from us,” Hearn told talkSPORT.

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“Just out of respect to Anthony. With everything he has been through and the tragic loss of Sina and Latz.

“At the moment, Anthony needs time and privacy. There will be no conversations from us about his career.

“Nothing about any move or what’s next. This is a terrible tragedy, and he’s going to need his own time physically and emotionally.

“There is nothing to discuss, and prayers for him and the families of all those involved in this terrible incident.”