British heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua remains in a private Lagos hospital following a devastating road collision in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his closest friends and long-time team members.
The Fatal Incident on a Deadly Expressway
The tragic event occurred on Monday, 29 December 2025, on the notoriously dangerous Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. An SUV carrying Joshua and his friends collided with a stationary truck. Local traffic police have suggested the vehicle may have been exceeding the 50mph speed limit at the time of the impact.
Joshua, who was seated in the rear left passenger seat, was rushed to medical care. His two companions, Sina Ghami, 36, and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele, 36, were killed instantly. Both men were seated on the right side of the vehicle, which sustained catastrophic damage. The local driver of the SUV survived the crash.
Remembering the Victims: A Decade-Long Bond
The loss represents a profound personal and professional blow to Joshua. Sina Ghami had served as the boxer's strength and conditioning coach for over ten years and was the proprietor of Evolve Gyms in Colindale and South Ruislip, London. Tributes have poured in outside his gyms.
Latif Ayodele was Joshua's personal trainer. He attended St Joan of Arc Catholic School in Rickmansworth, close to Joshua's hometown of Watford. In his memory, a fundraiser for a mosque and clean water project has astonishingly raised over £190,000.
The trio were travelling to the city of Sagamu to visit Joshua's family for the festive period. Joshua, whose parents are British-Nigerian, had spent part of his childhood at a boarding school in Ikenne, not far from the crash site.
Unanswered Questions and an Uncertain Future
While Joshua's family confirms he is in a 'stable' condition and 'responding to treatment' with his mother by his side, significant questions about the crash remain unresolved. The exact circumstances leading to the collision with the parked truck are still under investigation.
The accident happened just days after Joshua's high-profile victory over YouTuber Jake Paul on 19 December. His opponent was among the first to send prayers for Joshua and the deceased.
Professionally, the incident casts a long shadow. Joshua was slated for a historic, long-awaited clash with fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury. Prominent boxing promoter Frank Warren has expressed grave concerns, publicly questioning whether Joshua will retain the 'appetite to fight' after enduring such a traumatic event and devastating personal loss. The combined physical, emotional, and mental toll raises the possibility that the world champion may never step back into the ring.
As the investigation continues, the boxing world and fans globally await further updates on Joshua's recovery and the official findings into the crash that has shaken the sport.
