Former heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder has sent a heartfelt message of support to Anthony Joshua, urging the British-Nigerian boxer to “stay strong” following the tragic death of two of Joshua’s close friends.
Joshua was involved in a road traffic accident in Nigeria on December 29 that claimed the lives of Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. The trio were passengers in a vehicle that collided with a stationary truck near Lagos. Joshua sustained only minor injuries.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Wilder said the incident deeply affected him and reminded him of personal loss.
“In this boxing business we are all family,” Wilder said.
“So from another brother to another brother — stay encouraged, Anthony Joshua. Keep your head up. Stay prayed up, bro, because you’ve still got life.”
The American heavyweight added that the crash stirred painful memories of his cousin, who also died in a car accident.
“It’s tough to find the words,” he said. “Know that you are in our prayers. I don’t know where he is mentally, emotionally or spiritually, but I advise him to stay strong.”
Despite their long-standing rivalry, Joshua and Wilder have never faced each other in the ring. A proposed undisputed title fight in 2018 collapsed when Wilder held the WBC belt, while Joshua was champion of the WBA, WBO and IBF titles.
Still, Wilder believes the fight fans have waited years for could finally happen.
“I don’t have any regrets,” he told Sun Sport. “It takes two to tango. But if he’s still in the business and I’m still in the business, we can still fight.
“The heavyweight division is small. We can fight each other three, four, five times. If we’re both active, we’ll cross paths at some point.”
Wilder is currently preparing to face Derek Chisora on April 4 in London, a bout that will mark the 50th professional fight for both men.
At a recent news conference, the 38-year-old also opened up about personal and mental health struggles, revealing he had worked with therapists and sports psychologists to rediscover his focus.
“After two therapists and sports psychologists, here I am reinventing myself,” Wilder said. “I know I’m back. The fire is still in me.”
For now, Wilder’s message to Joshua remains simple — stay strong — while the boxing world waits to see if their long-anticipated clash finally becomes reality.
