Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has broken his silence following a devastating road accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close friends and left him hospitalised. The British-Nigerian boxer paid a heartfelt tribute on social media, sharing the profound loss of his companions.
The Tragic Incident on Nigeria's Busiest Highway
The accident occurred on Monday, 29 December, while Joshua was travelling on the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway, known as one of Nigeria's busiest and most congested highways. The 36-year-old athlete was a passenger in the vehicle when the collision happened. According to eyewitness accounts reported by local Nigerian outlets, Joshua was "seated behind the driver" and there was another person beside him in the car at the time of the impact.
Photographs that surfaced online showed the shirtless boxer being helped from the damaged vehicle. While Joshua sustained some minor injuries, local police authorities who spoke to the BBC confirmed that he was "fine" at the scene. He was subsequently taken to a hospital for medical attention and observation.
Remembering Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele
On Sunday, January 4, Joshua took to Instagram to honour his lost friends, posting two photos with the poignant caption, "My Brother’s Keeper ❤️?❤️". The victims were identified as Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, both integral members of Joshua's inner circle and team.
Sina Ghami was the founder of Evolve Gym and worked closely with Joshua as a strength and conditioning coach. His final social media post, shared just last month, featured him preparing Joshua's physique for the boxer's high-profile bout against Jake Paul on December 19.
Latif Ayodele served as Joshua's personal trainer and was described as a close friend. In a bittersweet final memory, Joshua's last Instagram post before the crash showed the two men engaged in a friendly game of table tennis, highlighting their bond beyond the gym.
Joshua's promotional company, Matchroom Boxing, released an official statement expressing their grief: "With profound sadness, it has been confirmed that two close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, have tragically passed away." The statement added that Joshua was "in stable condition" in hospital and requested privacy for the grieving families.
Joshua's Focus Amidst Personal Tragedy
The accident comes shortly after Joshua's recent professional victory, where he defeated the 29-year-old YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a much-anticipated match broadcast globally on Netflix from Miami. Despite the win, Joshua had given an interview to the Daily Mail earlier this month where he spoke of a relentless competitive drive, stating his mind was filled with the desire to "pin Jake Paul down and hurt him" and to hit back "10 times harder."
This personal tragedy casts a shadow over the champion's recent triumph. Anthony Joshua, who began boxing at 18 and won Olympic gold for Great Britain in 2012, is now dealing with a profound loss far removed from the ring. The boxing world and his fans now await his full recovery, both physical and emotional, from this heartbreaking event.
