Anthony Joshua Opens Up on Loss of Friends in Car Crash in Vulnerable Message
The former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has shared an emotional and vulnerable message addressing the tragic car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close friends.
Tragic Incident Near Lagos
The fatal accident occurred on December 29 near Lagos, Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele. Joshua, affectionately known as 'AJ', sustained minor injuries in the crash and has since returned to training at the gym as he continues his boxing career.
The boxing community worldwide has united in paying tribute to Ghami and Ayodele, who were former teammates and close associates of the champion fighter.
Joshua's Emotional Instagram Message
In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Joshua opened up about the profound loss, stating: "Not only did their parents, their uncles, their cousins, their friends, and myself lose two great men. We lost people we dearly care about and have been major players in all of our lives."
The boxer described the emotional difficulty of the situation, adding: "It's tough, it's really tough. I'm not going to sit here and show all of my emotions. I know in today's day and age, it's easy to micro-analyze as people and pass judgement but I know what I feel, and that's what matters to me."
Describing His Lost Companions
Joshua detailed the multifaceted relationships he shared with the two men, explaining: "I know what my duty is. They're my brothers. They're my friends, first and foremost. And then we became business partners. We became hustlers. We became lieutenants, we became generals. We became everything. We became housemates who were living together."
Fighting back tears, the champion continued: "It is a shame, it's a shame. So there's that side of things. One day my time will come and I'm not scared at all. It's actually comforting knowing I've got two brothers on the other side."
A Unique and Profound Loss
The boxer emphasized the unique nature of this loss in his life, stating: "I've lost people before but I don't think I've lost people like that. My left and my right. Throughout this journey that I've been on, they've been here, it's not easy."
In a particularly poignant reflection, Joshua described his friends as protective figures: "I'm the big guy, but I was walking with giants that kept me protected, kept me shielded. But the mission must go on. I understand my duty. I understand what they wanted to do for their families."
Continuing Their Legacy
Joshua outlined his commitment to honouring his friends' memories and supporting their families, saying: "So what my goal is, is to continue to help them achieve their goals, even though they may not be here in physical form. When I pray at night, when I pray in the morning, I know spiritually they're gonna aid me through because it's not just physical strength that will get me through, it's going to take a lot of strength from the higher power."
The champion concluded with a promise: "I'm going to definitely be saying my prayers and I'm gonna help them fulfil their dreams for their families."
This emotional tribute comes after Joshua's initial statement following the tragic incident, with the boxer now sharing more vulnerable reflections on the profound impact of losing his close companions in the December car crash.
