Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has shared an emotional tribute to two close friends who died in a fatal car crash in Nigeria, thanking the public for their outpouring of love.
Joshua took to X on Thursday to express his grief, acknowledge the pain of the bereaved families, and reflect on the character of the men he lost.
“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,” he wrote.
“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.”
The tribute follows the December 29 crash along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, which claimed the lives of Joshua’s friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
Meanwhile, UFC star Kamaru Usman shared a video of an emotional conversation he had with Joshua while the boxer was recovering from injuries sustained in the accident. The conversation, posted on Usman’s YouTube channel on Wednesday, took place ahead of an MMA event in Lagos on December 30, just a day after the crash.
Footage from the video, which has since been deleted, showed Joshua lying in a treatment room with bandages around his head and torso as he spoke about the tragedy, admitting that the reality of the loss had not yet fully sunk in.
“Obviously, two of my close friends passed away,” Joshua said.
Usman asked whether Ghami and Ayodele had been seated at the front of the black Lexus SUV at the time of the crash.
“One was in the front, and one was behind him, on the right side. They both passed away. It still hasn’t sunk in. It still hasn’t hit me yet,” Joshua replied.
“I’m sorry for that, man. You scared the world,” Usman responded.
“Life is short,” Joshua added. “It’s crazy how things move.”
Despite the tragedy and his injuries, Joshua appeared in good spirits during the call. He spent New Year’s Eve in hospital before flying back to the United Kingdom. The funerals for Ghami and Ayodele were held at London Central Mosque on January 4.
Earlier, Joshua broke his silence on social media by sharing a photograph with the families of the deceased, captioning it, “My Brother’s Keeper.”
The crash occurred when a black Lexus SUV, driven by Adeniyi Kayode, 46, rammed into the back of a stationary truck carrying soya beans. Joshua and Kayode escaped without serious injuries.
Kayode later appeared before a magistrate in Sagamu, charged with dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, driving without a licence, and causing bodily harm. The case was adjourned to January 20, with bail set at five million naira (£2,580).
Ayodele, a personal trainer known online as “Healthy Mindset,” was a long-time friend of Joshua, dating back to before the boxer’s professional career. Ghami was frequently seen training with Joshua and was in his corner for his recent fight with Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.
Following his discharge from hospital, Joshua returned to the United Kingdom and attended his friends’ funeral. According to a family member, the boxer is now considering stepping away from boxing in the wake of the tragedy.
