Dare Babalola
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is considering retiring from boxing after a fatal car crash in Nigeria claimed the lives of two of his close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
His uncle, Adedamola Joshua, revealed that the boxer informed his family of his decision, citing the emotional toll of his career.
“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.
“Each time he’s knocked down, it is just like the heart is coming out of our chest. All these emotional feelings whenever he’s fighting, it’s too much trauma for us, also. Now that he has said that he’s leaving while the ovation is highest, we are happy,” Adedamola told Punch during a visit to the family home in Sagamu on Monday morning.
Asked if Joshua had communicated this decision to the family.
“Yes,” the uncle confirmed.
The boxing star has also committed to providing lifelong support to the families of his two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, who died in the car accident near Lagos last Monday.
Joshua’s uncle also addressed concerns about the boxer’s relationship with Nigeria following the tragedy.
He said, “There are a lot of things we have heard, but this is a Christian family, and everything we take with faith.
“Once something like that happens, emotionally, you can say anything, but as time goes on, you know this is (always) your root.”
Joshua broke his public silence on Sunday, sharing photographs with the bereaved relatives on Instagram. His post carried the caption “My Brothers Keeper”, accompanied by two heart emojis and a military helmet symbol representing protection. The phrase references a biblical passage from Genesis 4:9, conveying a moral obligation to look after others.
A source within Joshua’s camp told UK publication The Sun, “AJ is fiercely loyal to his friends and their families and will be there for them for the rest of their lives. He’s had the same team around him for his whole career, and that team included Sina and Latz.”
Ghami served as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, while Ayodele worked as his personal trainer, making both men integral members of his boxing camp.
The pair had travelled to Nigeria with Joshua to visit his family when tragedy struck. Their Lexus SUV collided with a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Both Ghami and Ayodele were killed instantly at the scene.
Joshua had to be extracted from the wreckage by rescuers. The boxer was rushed to the hospital but escaped with only minor injuries.
Joshua attended an emotional funeral service at the London Central Mosque on Sunday, joining other mourners to pay his respects. The two coffins were positioned side by side as the Janaza – the Islamic funeral prayer – was read. Hundreds of members of the public had gathered outside the gates of the mosque before the coffins were taken to a nearby crematorium for the funeral service. A wake followed in the afternoon.
