British heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has found himself at the centre of a privacy breach after a deeply personal conversation about a tragic car accident was recorded and shared online without his consent.
Private Grief Made Public
The incident occurred when Joshua, 36, placed a FaceTime call from his hospital bed to his friend, UFC fighter Kamaru Usman. Joshua was recovering from minor injuries sustained in a serious crash on Nigeria's Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on December 29. During the call, the boxer revealed the devastating news that his two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, had been killed in the accident.
"It still hasn’t sunk in. It still hasn’t hit me yet," Joshua was heard telling Usman in the video, which captured his raw and immediate grief. Unbeknownst to both men, the conversation was being recorded while Usman was backstage at his African Knockout championship event in Lagos on December 30.
Usman Issues Public Apology
After the video surfaced online, Kamaru Usman took to social media platform X to issue a full apology. He explained that, having been on camera throughout the day for the AKO event, it had "completely slipped my mind that my conversation was recorded."
Usman stated he only realised afterwards and immediately asked for the footage to be removed. "I take full responsibility for not properly watching the video that was released and keeping my private conversation with my brother AJ private," he wrote. He concluded his post by calling the leak a "big L (loss) on me" and emphasised that betraying a friend's confidence was not in his character.
Tributes to Lost Friends and Legal Proceedings
The two men who lost their lives were integral members of Joshua's inner circle. Latif Ayodele served as the boxer's personal trainer, while Sina Ghami was his strength and conditioning coach. Joshua later posted a heartfelt tribute to them on Instagram, expressing his sorrow and admiration.
"I'll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men," Joshua wrote. He acknowledged his own pain but noted it would be "even tougher for their parents."
Meanwhile, legal action is underway in Nigeria. The Ogun State Police Command confirmed that the driver of the Lexus SUV, 46-year-old Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, has been charged with four offences, including dangerous driving causing death and driving without a valid licence. His case at the Sagamu Magistrate Court has been adjourned until January 20.
Boxing Career on Hold
In the wake of the tragedy, Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has made it clear that the boxer's future in the ring is the last thing on anyone's mind. Hearn told Matchroom Boxing's YouTube channel that this is a time for "faith and prayer and healing" rather than career updates.
Hearn fondly remembered Ghami and Ayodele, describing them as Joshua's "best mates" who brought incredible energy and positivity to his team. He stressed that the focus is entirely on Joshua's wellbeing and supporting the families affected by this "tragic incident." Joshua had been in Nigeria following his victory over Jake Paul on December 19 and was travelling to visit relatives for New Year celebrations when the crash occurred.
