Anthony Joshua staves off tears as he opens up on loss of friends in car crash

Anthony Joshua has opened up on the loss of two close friends as he issued a tearful message to the fans addressing his fatal car crash in Nigeria.

The boxing world united to pay tribute to Joshua’s former teammates Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele after both were killed in the accident near Lagos on 29 December.

‘AJ’, the former world heavyweight champion, appeared in agony as he was hauled out of the vehicle but was only left with minor injuries and has since returned to the gym in a bid to revisit his craft.

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Joshua issued an initial statement paying tribute to Ghami and Ayodele but has now taken to Instagram to speak more vulnerably to his fanbase.

“Not only did their parents, their uncles, their cousins their friends, and myself lose two great men. We lost people we dearly care about and have been major players in all of our lives,” Joshua said. “It’s tough, it’s really tough.

“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 micro-analyse as people and pass judgement but I know what I feel, and that’s what matters to me.

“I know what my duty is. They’re my brothers, they’re my friends, first and foremost. And then we became business partners. We became hustlers. We became lieutenants, we became generals. We became everything. We became housemates who were living together.”

It was the third post from Joshua since the accident, having first posted a shot of himself alongside family members, with a portrait shot of Ghami, before posting a touching written tribute.

As he staved off tears, Joshua added: “It is a shame, it’s a shame. So there’s that side of things. One day my time will come and I’m not scared at all. It’s actually comforting knowing I’ve got two brothers on the other side.

“I’ve lost people before but I don’t think I’ve lost people like that. My left and my right. Throughout this like journey that I’ve been on, they’ve been (here), it’s not easy.

“I’m the big guy, but I was walking with giants that kept me protected, kept me shielded. But the mission must go on. I understand my duty. I understand what they wanted to do for their families.

“So what my goal is, it’s to continue to help them achieve their goals, even though they may not be here in physical. When I pray at night, when I pray in the morning, I know spiritually they’re gonna 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.

“I’m going to definitely be saying my prayers and I’m gonna help them fulfil their dreams for their families. Not only me, there’s a whole team of us, the the whole brotherhood, the whole sisterhood that will be helping fulfil their legacy and fulfil their dreams.”

Joshua also made sure to thank all those who had offered their support and love across social media, saying it was “all acknowledged”.

The crash came just 10 days after Joshua knocked out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a fight in Miami.

Plans had been made for Joshua to fight again in February, likely in Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh Season boss Turki Alalshikh proposing a future fight in 2026 against long-time British rival Tyson Fury.

Anthony Joshua has a “desire to continue” despite suffering a tragic car crash in Nigeria last month.

That is according to Oleksandr Usyk – who recently shared a conversation the former two-time heavyweight world champion. Joshua was a passenger in the the Lexus SUV that collided with a stationary truck on a major expressway near Lagos, Nigeria. The 36-year-old came away with minor injuries, but the incident claimed the lives of two of the boxer’s close friends and teammates, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.

Their funerals took place in London on January 4. Reports have emerged since that Joshua cheated death by swapping seats ahead of the journey. There are now questions over the Brit’s future – who was in Nigeria just days after his knockout win over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

Earlier this month, the boxing star’s uncle claimed the heavyweight behemoth had informed his family he will retire following the crash. The Brit allegedly made the decision ‘known to his family in private’. “The major thing there is that he has retired from boxing. That is one thing that makes us glad because each time he’s fighting in the ring, we are always carried away emotionally,” Adedamola Joshua told The Punch. Usyk, though, shares a different view after sharing a chat with ‘AJ.’

The 39-year-old – who famously beat Joshua twice in 2021 and 2022 – has formed a rather close bond with the Brit in recent times, and the Ukrainian has now revealed a conversation he had with the boxing legend. During a recent interview with Ready To Fight, he said: “I’ve already spoken with him.

“I heard a desire to continue in his voice — for the friends he lost and for the chance to live that the Lord gave him. Once I spoke with the mother of my fallen comrade, and she told me: ‘Oleksandr, he would be very proud that you are continuing your work; he will watch you from heaven.’ And he, I think, does that. And not just him, but all my loved ones who passed away defending our country. They are my guardian angels who help me in the ring.”

Usyk has worked closely with Joshua these past few months after Joshua enlisted the help of the Ukrainian ahead of his fight with Paul last month. The 39-year-old is expected to make his return to the ring later this year, having not fought since his knockout win over Daniel Dubois back in July.

Last week, pictures emerged of Joshua returning to the gym nearly three weeks after the incident in Nigeria. ‘AJ’ shared snaps of him working working out and hitting pads in what he described as “mental strength therapy.” He was also seen pushing himself with some lower leg exercises as well as riding a stationary bike. Further footage showed the boxing star getting in a pool in a compilation of footage.

Other posts included a picture of what appeared to be the official time he had been on a cardio machines, along with the caption: “I am a fighter.” as well as a photo of him being punched by heavyweight legend Wladimir Klitschko during their historic showdown back in 2017 at Wembley Stadium.

The boxer’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, provided a recent update on his star client after the British fighter was spotted back in the gym, as he laced up the gloves again in Dubai. The promoter shared a post on Instagram. “Great to catch up with @anthonyjoshua today,” the Matchroom chief wrote. “His resilience and strength is inspiring. The loss is heavy, and he will take his time to get back on track. But said he is truly grateful for all the support and the love shown for Latz and Sina.”

Anthony Joshua Posts New Boxing Return Update Amid Retirement Speculation

Anthony Joshua has posted footage of himself in training for the first time since being involved in a fatal car crash that killed two of his close friends.

The 36-year-old former heavyweight champion sustained minor injuries in late December, when the Lexus SUV he was travelling in collided with a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos, Nigeria.

Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, his close friends, sadly passed away in the crash.

READ: Watch Anthony Joshua Back in Boxing Training Following Tragic Ca

Joshua travelled back to the United Kingdom after a short stay in hospital and attended the funerals of Ghami and Ayodele at a mosque in London on January 4.

Last week, he paid tribute to Ghami and Ayodele, saying he is finding it “tough” to process their deaths.

“Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers. I didn’t even realise how special they are,” Joshua wrote on Instagram.

“I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. 100 per cent it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents.”

He added: “I have a strong mind, and I believe God knows their hearts. May God have mercy on my brothers.”

Over the past month, there has been speculation as to whether Joshua will retire from boxing after the tragic incident.

Now, Joshua has posted a video on Snapchat showing him hitting pads, working out and riding a stationary bike, with the message “mental strength therapy” featuring at the bottom of one clip.

There have been no conversations over Joshua’s future, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn, who was recently asked whether he expects the heavyweight fighter to take some time away from the sport.

“He will need his time physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually before he makes a decision on his future,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “I do think he will want to return to boxing, but that will be his decision when the time is right.

“It is certainly not a conversation I’ll be having with him any time soon. The only conversation is ‘are you OK?’ and sometimes we find people will give that facade of being OK, but what happened to him is not normal and heartbreaking for all involved.”

“When the time is right, I believe he will make his decision and you will hear it from him,” added Hearn. “That is the only voice you should listen to in that respect and we’ll give him his time to make that decision and heal.”

Anthony Joshua Back in Boxing Training Following Tragic Car Crash

Anthony Joshua is seen on video returning to boxing training for the first time since a tragic car accident just a few weeks ago.

On the 29th of December 2025, Joshua was a passenger in a Lexus SUV on Nigeria’s Lagos–Ibadan Expressway when it crashed into a stationary truck while overtaking. Two members of his team—trainer Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele and strength coach Sina Ghami—were killed. Joshua suffered minor injuries.

It came at a time when Joshua had just fought Jake Paul — finally knocking him out late in the fight, after having broken his jaw — was linked with two bouts in 2026, beginning in February against the kickboxing phenom Rico Verhoeven and then building toward a Battle of Britain involving Tyson Fury.

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If AJ’s recent footage is an indication, any speculation he may retire appears to have been premature, and we could still see the two-fight swing he was linked with in recent weeks.

Anthony Joshua Back in Training

Joshua is widely regarded one of Britain’s most successful boxers as he’s a silver medal winner from the World Amateur Championships, gold medal winner from the 2012 Olympic Games, and won the world heavyweight championship as a pro, twice, with victories over the likes of Roberto Cammarelle, Zhilei Zhang, Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, and Francis Ngannou, among many others.

Joshua, following the incident at the end of 2025, was taken to hospital for checks and treatment for minor injuries but discharged as he was in stable condition and could recuperate at home. In the footage below, Joshua described his boxing training as “mental strength therapy.”

This follows a statement Joshua made on social media. “Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers,” he said. “I didn’t even realise how special they are. I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. 100% it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents. I have a strong mind, and I believe God knows their hearts. May God have mercy on my brothers.”