Anthony Joshua has opened up for the first time since a tragic car accident claimed the lives of two of his closest friends. Sharing a heartfelt video message, the former world heavyweight champion paid tribute to Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, describing them as more than colleagues true brothers and companions.
The devastating accident occurred on December 29 when Joshua’s Lexus SUV collided with a parked truck near Lagos. Joshua survived with minor injuries, but Ghami and Ayodele, both key members of his professional and personal circle, lost their lives. The incident left Joshua largely out of the public eye as he grappled with the profound loss.
On Thursday night, Joshua returned to social media to address the tragedy, expressing both grief and gratitude. Reflecting on the suddenness of the event, he said, “We went home to see our families, and everything flipped on its head. It was such an unforeseen circumstance, completely out of our control. We lost people who were major players in all of our lives it’s really tough.”
He described his bond with the late Ghami and Ayodele, highlighting the depth of their relationship: “They were my brothers first, friends second. Then we became business partners, hustlers, generals, housemates. I’ve lost people before, but I don’t think I’ve ever lost giants walking with me like this.”
Joshua also spoke about his commitment to supporting the families left behind. “My goal is to help their families achieve their dreams, even though they’re no longer here physically. I will be saying my prayers and doing what’s right by them. They were important team members, important friends, and two of my brothers,” he said.
Acknowledging the outpouring of support, Joshua noted, “The love from around the world messages, prayers, tweets, videos it’s all been seen, heard, and appreciated. We recognize it fully.”
Alongside his video, Joshua publicly thanked several people for their support during the difficult period, including medical staff at Lagoon Hospital in Ikoyi, Lagos, President Bola Tinubu, Femi Otedola, Aliko Dangote, Senator Daisy Danjuma, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, and the governors of Lagos and Ogun states.
The remains of Ghami and Ayodele were flown back to the United Kingdom after the accident, and a joint funeral prayer was held at a London mosque on January 4, giving friends and family a moment to honor their memory.
