Former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has spoken publicly and emotionally about the deaths of two of his closest companions — strength and conditioning coach Sina Ghami and personal trainer Latif “Latz” Ayodele — following a deadly car crash in Nigeria late last year.
The fatal accident occurred on December 29, 2025, when the Lexus SUV carrying Joshua and his teammates collided with a stationary truck near Lagos, killing Ghami and Ayodele on the spot. Joshua, 36, sustained minor injuries in the crash and was hospitalized before being discharged and returning to the UK to mourn their loss.
In a heartfelt video message posted on social media — his most extended public statement since the tragedy — Joshua described Ghami and Ayodele as far more than colleagues. He spoke of them as his “left and my right,” referring to the men as his closest companions and brothers in both personal and professional life. The emotional tribute underlined how significant their presence had been in his life and boxing career.
“It’s tough. It’s really tough,” Joshua said in the video, struggling with his grief as he paused to reflect on the magnitude of the loss. He acknowledged having “lost people before,” but said he had never experienced grief like this — emphasizing how deeply the deaths of his friends had affected him.
Joshua’s message was marked by raw emotion, with the boxing star visibly moved as he thanked fans and well-wishers for the outpouring of support from around the world. He paid tribute to the impact Ghami and Ayodele had on his life, both inside and outside the sport, and stressed that their memory would always remain with him.
In the statement, he also reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the families left behind, promising to help them fulfill their loved ones’ aspirations and continue the work they were passionate about. For Joshua, this pledge to their families was “a duty” and a way to honour the bond he shared with them.
The former world champion has also publicly acknowledged the spiritual comfort he finds in believing that his friends are still with him in some form. While he noted the pain of losing them, he said he was not afraid of his own mortality — a sentiment tied to how deeply he feels connected to the men he lost.
The crash came shortly after Joshua had convincingly defeated YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December, a high-profile victory that was part of a very active period in his career. Plans were already in place for future fights in 2026, including possible bouts against long-time rivals. But the tragedy shifted his focus from sport to mourning and healing, both personally and within his inner circle.
Despite the heartbreak, Joshua has since resumed training as part of his emotional recovery and has shared that continuing to work and stay disciplined helps him navigate the grief. His promoter has also stressed that there will be no decisions about his boxing future until he has had time and space to process the loss at his own pace.
The accident also triggered wider responses within the boxing community. Fellow fighters, including Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Jake Paul and Chris Eubank Jr., publicly expressed their condolences to the families of Ghami and Ayodele and their respect for Joshua as he deals with the traumatic aftermath of the crash.
Authorities in Nigeria charged the driver of the SUV, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, with multiple offences including reckless and negligent driving in connection with the collision.
As the boxing world and fans continue to rally around him, Joshua’s tribute reflects not just the sorrow of losing two close friends, but also his determination to honour their memory through his actions on and off the canvas.
