A close friend of Anthony Joshua has delivered a devastating verdict on the boxer's future, stating the deaths of his two best mates in a horror car crash will "crucify him" and likely force his retirement.
Miraculous Escape in Nigeria Tragedy
The British heavyweight, 36, miraculously survived a catastrophic car wreck in Ogun State, Nigeria, on Monday morning. His two close friends, Sina Ghami and Kevin 'Latif' Ayodele, were not so fortunate and died on impact. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Joshua's inner circle and the wider boxing community.
Tributes have flooded in for the pair over the last 24 hours, with mourners gathering at the Evolve Gym in Colindale, north west London, which was owned by Mr Ghami. Among them was Lindsey Jacobs, a family friend who offered a heartbreaking insight into the trio's bond and the profound impact their loss will have on the former world champion.
'Like Both His Arms Have Been Cut Off'
Speaking from outside the gym, Lindsey, from Edgware, explained the inseparable nature of Joshua's friendship with Sina and Kevin. "The three of them were inseparable. They went everywhere together," she said. "If you watch all of his fights you'll see Sina, Kevin, AJ all there holding the belts."
She painted a picture of a support system now utterly destroyed. "It's like both his arms have been cut off. I think he'll retire. I don't think he can possibly go on without them," Lindsey stated. "He relied on them for everything. How AJ is going to cope without them I don't know. I think he'll retire. I don't think he can go on without his two best mates."
Lindsey first got to know Sina while walking their French Bulldogs in a local park, where he would affectionately call her "Aunty" and encourage her to run. Her daughter, who wished to remain anonymous, was also close friends with Sina, Kevin, and AJ.
Distraught Reaction to Circulating Crash Footage
The family's grief was compounded by the circulation of graphic online videos showing the immediate aftermath of the crash. Lindsey confirmed she had seen footage of Joshua being pulled from the wreckage and another, which her daughter demanded be taken down, showing Sina on the ground.
"It's disrespectful to the family. It's not necessary for any of us to see it," she said, visibly upset. "I want to remember Sina the way I always knew him - bright, vibrant, funny, generous of heart."
Asked about the video of Joshua, she responded: "Very. Terribly to see that man in such pain. He's a man mountain, he must have been in pain and he must have known what's happened and it will crucify him."
Following the crash, Joshua was taken from the wreckage by emergency services, placed in a police vehicle, and transported to hospital for treatment.
Lindsey and her daughter left poignant handwritten notes among the flowers at the gym. Lindsey's read: "Always in my thoughts. A humble man who always called me Aunty, c'mon. Rest in peace Sina." Her daughter's message expressed heartbreak, recalling Sina as "the life and soul" and the reason she started going to the gym.
The coming weeks will reveal the true physical and mental toll on Anthony Joshua, but according to those who knew his bond with the victims, the personal loss is immeasurable and casts a long, dark shadow over his future in the ring.
