I’ll help my dead friends achieve their goals – Anthony Joshua
I’ll help my dead friends achieve their goals – Anthony Joshua
British-Nigerian heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua on Thursday opened up about the loss of two close friends in a fatal car crash exactly one month after the incident, vowing to carry on their dreams and support their families.
The former two-time heavyweight champion spoke in an emotional video message shared with fans on social media.
Joshua, 36, fought back tears as he reflected on the tragedy that unfolded during a trip to Nigeria late December.
“The last time I spoke to you guys was in Miami. We had so many plans to wrap up 2025 and we were on a mission,” Joshua said in the six-minute clip.
“We went back home, went to see our families and everything just got flipped upside down on its head.”
The crash occurred on December 29, 2025, near Sagamu, Ogun State, when the Lexus SUV carrying Joshua and his friends collided with a truck.
Joshua, who sustained minor injuries, was rushed to hospital for medical attention but later returned to the UK.
However, two of his closest friends were not so fortunate. His strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami and personal trainer, Latif “Latz” Ayodele died in the accident.
“God’s the best planner. We can’t plan. We can plan to the best of our capabilities,” Joshua stated, his voice steadying as he grappled with the unpredictability of the event.
“That was such an unforeseen circumstance that was out of all of our control. And 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 and have been major players in all of our lives. Major, major players in all of our lives. It’s tough. It’s really tough.”
Joshua, who has often credited his support team for his rise from a troubled youth to a two-time world champion, described Ghami and Ayodele not just as professional aides but as “brothers” and integral parts of his life.
“They’re my brothers. They’re my friends first and foremost. Then we became business partners. We became hustlers. We became lieutenants. We became generals. We became everything. We became housemates. We were living together,” he said, pausing to compose himself.
Joshua noted that he had lost people in the past but this one hit differently.
“I’ve lost people before, but I don’t think I’ve lost people like that. My left and my right, you know, throughout this journey that I’ve been on. I didn’t even realise that I’m the big guy, you know what I mean? But I was walking with giants, man, that kept me protected, kept me shielded.”
Despite the pain, Joshua expressed a sense of purpose moving forward, emphasising his commitment to honouring their memory.
“The mission must go on. I understand my duty. I understand what they wanted to do for their families. So what my goal is, is to continue to help them achieve their goals,” he declared.
“Even though they may not be here in the physical, when I pray at night, when I pray in the morning, I know spiritually they’re going to aid me through because it’s not just physical strength that will get me through. It’s going to take a lot of strength from the higher power.”
He disclosed that a broader network of friends and family would join him in this effort. “Not only me, there’s a whole team of us, a whole brotherhood, a whole sisterhood that will be helping fulfill their legacy and fulfill their dreams,” Joshua said.
“It ain’t about legacy. It’s just doing what’s right. And I know I’m going to do what’s right by them. I know what I got to do. So yeah, I’m going to do what’s right by them. I’m going to do what’s right by their family.”
Joshua also took a moment to thank his global fanbase for the outpouring of support in the weeks following the accident.
“We heard. We saw the messages, the tweets, the social media, the YouTubes, the prayers. It’s all been acknowledged,” he said.
He also addressed the families directly: “Mom, Mama Lat, Mama Sina, Papa Latz, Papa Sina, one love, you know, out here representing.”
