Former two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua has released an emotional video statement, his first public comments since being involved in a tragic car crash that claimed the lives of two of his closest friends.
The incident occurred on December 29 in Lagos, Nigeria, when an SUV carrying Joshua and members of his team collided with a stationary truck. While the boxer escaped with minor injuries, two of his friends and associates, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, were killed in the crash.
Joshua later returned to the United Kingdom to continue medical treatment and has remained largely out of the public eye in the weeks since, taking time to grieve and support the families affected by the tragedy.
In a heartfelt video shared on his social media platforms, the British boxer paid tribute to the men he described as brothers and thanked fans for the overwhelming support he has received.
“The last time I spoke to you guys was in Miami. We had so many plans to wrap up 2025,” Joshua said. “We went home to see our families and everything got flipped on its head. That was such an unforeseen circumstance that was out of all of our control.”
He reflected on the depth of the loss, saying the impact extended far beyond himself. “Not only did their parents, their uncles, their cousins, their friends and myself lose two great men, we lost people that we really care about, who have been major players in all of our lives. It’s tough. It’s really tough.”
reflected on the depth of the loss, saying the impact extended far beyond himself. “Not only did their parents, their uncles, their cousins, their friends and myself lose two great men, we lost people that we really care about, who have been major players in all of our lives. It’s tough. It’s really tough.”
Joshua also addressed the difficulty of speaking publicly about his grief. “I’m not going to sit here and show all of my emotions. I know in today’s day and age it’s easy to analyse people and pass judgment, but I know what I thought, and I know how I feel.”
The 2012 Olympic gold medallist explained that his relationship with Ghami and Ayodele went far beyond boxing or business. “They were my brothers, my friends, first and foremost. Then we became business partners, hustlers, generals, everything. We became housemates, living together,” he said.
“I’ve lost people before, but not people throughout this journey that I’ve been on. You think I’m the big guy, but I was walking with giants. Protected.”
Joshua pledged to stand by the families of his late friends and to honour their memory through action. “My goal is to help their families and to help them achieve their goals, even though they may not be here in the physical. I’m going to do what’s right by their family,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude for the global outpouring of support following the tragedy. “We heard you all. We saw the messages, the tweets, the social media, the YouTubes, the prayers. It’s all been acknowledged. We acknowledge the thousands, maybe millions, around the world that showed so much love to them both.”
Following the crash, the bodies of Ghami and Ayodele were repatriated to the UK, where a joint funeral service was held at a London mosque on January 4.
It remains unclear when Joshua will return to the ring. The heavyweight star last fought in December, when he recorded a knockout victory over Jake Paul, but for now his focus remains on healing and supporting the families of those he lost.
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