Anthony Joshua's Emotional Tribute to Friends Lost in Nigeria Car Crash
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has delivered a heartfelt and emotional message to fans following the tragic car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his closest friends. The boxing superstar fought back tears as he spoke vulnerably about the profound loss of Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele in the December 29 crash near Lagos.
The Tragic Accident and Immediate Aftermath
The devastating incident occurred just ten days after Joshua's knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami. While Joshua sustained only minor injuries and was pulled from the wreckage, his friends Ghami and Ayodele were tragically killed. The boxing community has united in paying tribute to the two men, who were described as Joshua's former teammates and close companions.
Since the accident, Joshua has returned to training at the gym, but the emotional impact has been profound. He issued an initial statement shortly after the crash but has now taken to Instagram to share more personal reflections on his loss.
Joshua's Heartfelt Instagram Message
In his emotional social media post, Joshua described the depth of his connection to the two men, 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 acknowledged the difficulty of processing such a loss, 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-analyse as people and pass judgement but I know what I feel, and that's what matters to me."
The Depth of Their Relationship
Joshua elaborated on the multifaceted nature of his relationship with Ghami and Ayodele, 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."
This was Joshua's third post since the accident, following earlier tributes that included family photos and written messages honoring his friends.
Finding Strength in Loss
As he struggled to contain his emotions, Joshua reflected: "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."
The former champion revealed the unique nature of this loss, 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 moment, Joshua described their protective role in his life: "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 expressed his determination to honor his friends' memory by helping achieve their goals, saying: "So what my goal is, it's 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."
He emphasized the collective effort to preserve their legacy: "I'm going to definitely be saying my prayers and I'm gonna help them fulfil their dreams for their families. Not only me, there's a whole team of us, the whole brotherhood, the whole sisterhood that will be helping fulfil their legacy and fulfil their dreams."
Future Plans and Gratitude
Joshua concluded by thanking all those who had offered support across social media, assuring them that their messages were "all acknowledged." The tragedy comes at a significant moment in Joshua's career, with plans previously made for a February fight, likely in Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh Season boss Turki Alalshikh had proposed a potential 2026 bout against long-time British rival Tyson Fury, though Joshua's immediate focus remains on processing this personal tragedy while continuing his boxing journey in honor of his lost friends.
