Anthony Joshua's Emotional Tribute to Friends Killed in Car Crash
Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has broken his silence with an emotional video tribute to two close friends who tragically died in a car crash he survived in Nigeria last December.
The 36-year-old athlete fought back tears as he spoke about the loss of his strength and conditioning coach Sina Ghami and personal trainer Latif 'Latz' Ayodele, who both perished at the scene of the accident on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Makun on December 29, 2025.
Surviving the Horrific Ordeal
Joshua was a passenger in the vehicle that crashed, escaping with minor injuries that required hospital treatment. Since the horrific incident, the boxing star has said very little publicly until posting his heartfelt message on social media on Thursday evening.
'This is the best way I could reach out to you worldwide who are showing so much love, care and support during that tragic, traumatic time where we lost Latz and Sina in Nigeria,' Joshua said in the emotional video.
'The last time I spoke to you guys was in Miami after fighting Jake Paul. We had so many plans to wrap up 2025 and we were on a mission. We went home to see our families and everything got flipped on its head.'
Remembering His 'Left and Right'
Joshua described the profound impact of losing what he called his 'left and right' - two men who had been integral to both his personal life and professional career.
'God's the best planner. We can plan to the best of our capabilities, but that was such an unforeseen circumstance that was out of all of our control,' he reflected. 'Not only did their parents, their uncles, their cousins, their friends and myself lose two great men. We lost people that we dearly care about, who have been major players in all of our lives.'
The former champion revealed that the accident has given him new perspective on the role his friends played in his life. 'I didn't realise that I'm the big guy but I was walking with giants, that kept me protected, kept me shielded,' he said emotionally.
Continuing Their Mission
Despite the tragedy, Joshua vowed to continue the work he and his friends had begun together. 'The mission must go on. I understand my duty,' he stated firmly.
'My goal is to continue to help them achieve their goals, even though they may not be here in the physical. I will definitely be saying my prayers, and I'm going to help them fulfil their dreams for their families.'
He emphasised that he wouldn't be working alone, saying: 'It's not only me, there's a whole team of us, a whole brotherhood and sisterhood helping fulfil their legacy and dreams.'
Who Were Joshua's Friends?
Latif 'Latz' Ayodele had been part of Joshua's team since his first world title victory over Charles Martin in 2016. The personal trainer was a dedicated Muslim who converted to Islam in 2012 and worked with several prominent athletes including New Zealand rugby legend Sonny Bill Williams.
Sina Ghami served as Joshua's strength and conditioning coach for over a decade and co-founded Evolve Gym in London. A qualified sports and exercise rehabilitator specialising in musculoskeletal injuries, Ghami was at Joshua's side during career highlights including his famous victory over Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in 2017.
Both men were considered part of Joshua's inner circle, with their social media feeds filled with images of them working and relaxing together.
Looking to the Future
While Joshua's boxing future remains uncertain following the tragedy, his focus appears to be on honouring his friends' memories. 'I know in my corner of the world, I know what I'm going to be doing, and I know what we're gonna do to continue their... I don't wanna say legacy, it ain't about legacy, it's just doing what's right,' he said.
He concluded his emotional tribute by thanking supporters worldwide: 'I just want to say thank you. We heard you all, we saw the messages, the tweets, the social media, the YouTubes, the prayers, it's all been acknowledged.'
The boxing community continues to offer support to Joshua as he navigates this difficult period, with many wondering how the tragedy will impact his future in the sport.
