Former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has paid an emotional tribute to his close friends who died in a fatal car crash along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State late last year, admitting that he is going through a difficult period following the loss.
Metro PUNCH reported that the victims, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, lost their lives in the accident, which occurred on December 29, while the boxer survived the crash.
Joshua honoured the late Sina and Latif in a heartfelt Instagram post on Thursday, hours after a YouTube video of his emotional conversation with former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman went viral.
In the post, Joshua acknowledged the deep pain caused by the loss, describing it as devastating for him and even more unbearable for the parents of the deceased.
“Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers. I didn’t even realise how special they are. I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. 100% it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents ❤️ I have a strong mind, and I believe God knows their hearts. May God have mercy on my brothers,” Joshua wrote on his verified Instagram page.
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In the video shared by Usman on Wednesday, Joshua admitted that the reality of the tragedy had yet to fully register. The conversation took place ahead of a mixed martial arts event held in Lagos on December 30.
“It still hasn’t sunk in. It still hasn’t hit me yet,” he told Usman.
Reflecting on the fragility of life, Joshua added, “Life is short, man. Life is short. And now look, I get to speak with you for the first time.”
Joshua had earlier broken his public silence on Sunday by sharing photographs with members of the bereaved families on Instagram. The post was captioned “My Brothers Keeper,” accompanied by two heart emojis and a military helmet symbol representing protection. The phrase references a biblical passage from Genesis 4:9, symbolising a moral responsibility to care for others.
Meanwhile, Joshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, has revealed that the 36-year-old boxer is seriously considering retirement from the sport.
“The major thing there is that he has retired from boxing. That is one thing that makes us glad because each time he’s fighting in the ring, we are always carried away emotionally,” Adedamola told The PUNCH during a visit to the family home in Sagamu on Monday, January 6.
“Each time he’s knocked down, it is just like the heart is coming out of our chest. All these emotional feelings whenever he’s fighting, it’s too much trauma for us, also. Now that he has said that he’s leaving while the ovation is highest, we are happy.”
