Anthony Joshua‘s family was “shaken deeply” by the car crash in Nigeria that left the boxer “shocked” and killed two of his close friends, his uncle has said.
Adedamola Joshua, one of Mr Joshua’s uncles, said the former world champion had been in Nigeria for just six hours when the horror collision took place on Monday.
“This is a serious tragedy, not only for our family, but for Ogun State, Nigeria, and the world at large,” he told The Sun. “We are deeply saddened that two people very close to Anthony did not survive.”
It comes after eyewitness Ajala Yusuf Oluwaseyi told Sky News Joshua was visibly shaken by what he called the “deadliness of the incident”, adding: “He was shocked, he couldn’t talk.”
Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele are believed to have been travelling in the same Lexus Jeep as Joshua when it collided with a stationary truck by the side of a busy highway of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, according to reports.
Ayodele “Latz,” a long-time friend who had been with Joshua for a decade, was with him shortly before the crash, while Ghami, a team physio and close friend, was also part of the boxer’s inner circle.
Tyson Fury paid tribute to Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele
Tyson Fury passed on his condolences two of Anthony Joshua’s close friends and team members died in a car crash which left the British boxer injured.
Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele died after the vehicle they were travelling in alongside Joshua and another passenger on Monday morning struck a stationary truck along the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Fury, who has been linked with reversing his retirement to take on Joshua in 2026, wrote on his Instagram story on Tuesday: “This is so sad. May God give them a good bed in heaven.”
Dan Haygarth31 December 2025 21:45
Eddie Hearn pays tribute to Anthony Joshua’s two friends after fatal car crash
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has paid tribute to Anthony Joshua’s friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, who died in a car crash in Nigeria.
Ghami and Ayodele lost their lives on Monday after the vehicle they were travelling in alongside Joshua struck a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos.
British heavyweight Joshua sustained injuries but is stable and conscious in hospital, according to Ogun State Government.
Hearn – who has promoted 36-year-old Joshua since he turned professional, after he won gold at the London 2012 Olympics – posted on Instagram: “Rest in peace Latz and Sina. Your energy and loyalty among so many other great qualities will be deeply missed.
“Praying for strength and guidance for all their family, friends and of course AJ during this very difficult time.”
Tom Barnes31 December 2025 20:55
Will Anthony Joshua box again? Nothing could matter less
If you are reading this, you have already seen the headline, so let’s address that part at once: it does not matter if Anthony Joshua ever fights again. In fact, nothing could matter less.
On Monday, the former two-time world heavyweight champion was a passenger in a car crash in Nigeria. Joshua, 36, escaped the accident with minor injuries but was visibly dazed and in pain in the aftermath, before being taken to hospital. What accompanied this surprising, concerning news, was more grave: the rumoured deaths of two people, with rumour becoming reality in a tragic turn as the day unfolded.
Read the full article here:
Holly Evans31 December 2025 20:00
Watch: Anthony Joshua pulled from wreckage after car crash in Nigeria
Holly Evans31 December 2025 19:00
Anthony Joshua car crash sparks fresh concerns over roads in Nigeria
The high-profile crash has cast a renewed spotlight on Nigeria’s perilous road network, where accidents are a common occurrence.
Data from the country’s Federal Road Safety Corps reveals a grim picture, with 5,421 deaths recorded in 9,570 road accidents in 2024 alone – an increase of 340 fatalities compared to the previous year.
Experts point to a confluence of factors, including dilapidated infrastructure, lax enforcement of traffic laws, and driver indiscipline, as contributors to these statistics.
Read the full article here:
Holly Evans31 December 2025 18:00
Watch: Friend of Latif Ayodele who was killed in Anthony Joshua crash pays tribute
Holly Evans31 December 2025 17:00
Who is Anthony Joshua?
Anthony Joshua is the British former world heavyweight boxing champion injured in a crash in Nigeria on Monday.
The son of British-Nigerian parents, Joshua was born in Britain and attended a boarding school in Ikenne, Nigeria, before returning to the UK at age 12.
The crash occurred just over a week after he knocked out American social media star Jake Paul in the sixth round of a bout in Miami.
Paul expressed his condolences in a X post on Monday, saying he was “praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.”
Joshua was returning to the ring after a 15-month layoff. He was expected to fight long-time rival and fellow Briton Tyson Fury in 2026.
Holly Evans31 December 2025 16:15
Anthony Joshua’s poignant speech about ‘how fast life will go’ resurfaces after car crash
Anthony Joshua’s poignant speech about ‘how fast life will go’ resurfaces after crash
Anthony Joshua’s remarks about “how fast life will go” have resurfaced after the boxer was injured in a car crash that killed two of his close friends in Nigeria. The two-time heavyweight champion was taken after sustaining minor injuries in the accident on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, but his strength coach Sina Ghami and personal trainer Latif “Latz” Ayodele died. Joshua told Boxing King Media: “In the grand scheme of things, everything that I chase and everything that I want to own to make me feel relevant on this earth, is not so important, because I can’t take it with me. “All that’s guaranteed is death. All that’s going to be important is just living to the best of our capability. Ain’t it mad how fast life will go.”
Holly Evans31 December 2025 15:30
‘Prayers go out to you’, Jarrell Miller tells Joshua
Jarrell Miller has said his “heart goes out” to Anthony Joshua.
The American boxer, who was due to fight against Joshua in 2019 before failing a drug test, posted a video of Joshua on social media, alongside the caption: “We ain’t friends but as warrior and human being my heart goes out to you. Prayers go out to you, your friends and family. Get well bruv. Life is truly too short.”
In the footage, Joshua says: “Basically what I’m saying is, everyone have a good evening, whatever you’re doing in your lives. We’re all going to die one day, so don’t get too caught up in the bulls*** and the hype. Live your life while you’re here, because you never know what’s around the [corner], like heart attacks, disease, wars, like life could just hit you like that. So try and enjoy every day – that’s what I’m trying to say. Don’t get too caught up in the bulls***.”
Holly Evans31 December 2025 14:44
Was Joshua due to fight Tyson Fury?
Tyson Fury has passed on his condolences after a car crash in Nigeria which killed two of Anthony Joshua’s close friends and team members and left the British boxer injured.
Fury, who has been linked with reversing his retirement to take on Joshua in 2026, wrote on his Instagram story: “This is so sad. May God give them a good bed in heaven.”
Minutes earlier, the self-styled Gypsy King reignited talk of a ring return by posting a photograph on social media of himself and one of his sons and nephews wearing T-shirts which read: “I’m back.”
Joshua called out Fury following a sixth-round knockout win over Jake Paul less than a fortnight ago in Miami although any talk of a long-awaited showdown next summer is now firmly on the backburner.
Holly Evans31 December 2025 13:54
