Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has publicly addressed the tragic loss of two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, who were killed in a car crash in Nigeria.
Joshua, who sustained minor injuries in the fatal collision, was visiting family in Nigeria following his December victory over Jake Paul when the incident occurred. In an emotional social media video, the boxer spoke about the “traumatic time” and the profound impact of losing two key members of his team.
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“We went back home, went to see our families and everything just got flipped upside on its head,” Joshua said. “That was such an unforeseen circumstance, that was out of all of our control.”
He described Ghami and Ayodele as “major players” in the lives of many, adding, “Not only did their parents, their uncles, their cousins, their friends and myself lose two great men, we lost people that we dearly care about.”
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Joshua reflected on the deep personal loss, referring to them as his “left and my right” and “two of my brothers.” He explained their protective role in his life, stating, “I’m the big guy but I was walking with giants that kept me protected, kept me shielded.”
While acknowledging the difficulty of the situation, Joshua expressed his resolve to honor their memory and support their families. “It’s tough. It’s really tough,” he admitted. “My goal is to continue to help them achieve their goals… I’m going to do what’s right by them, I’m going to do what’s right by their family.”
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Despite his own injuries and emotional trauma, Joshua indicated that he has no immediate plans to retire from boxing. He affirmed his commitment to his career, driven by a sense of duty to his late friends.
“In my corner of the world I know what I’m going to be doing,” he stated. “What can I say? One day my time will come… But the mission must go on. I understand my duty.”
Joshua also expressed gratitude for the global outpouring of support and was moved by the widespread tributes to his friends. “I still can’t get my head around… just how popular [they are]. We just grew up together,” he concluded. “I’m sure their parents are 100 per cent proud of them because I am. Thank you for the love worldwide.”
