Former two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has been discharged from a Nigerian hospital following a devastating road accident that claimed the lives of two of his closest friends and key team members.
Details of the Tragic Accident
The collision occurred on Monday, 30 December 2025, on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near Lagos. The vehicle carrying the British boxer struck a stationary truck. Joshua sustained minor injuries and was visibly dazed at the scene before being taken for medical treatment.
Tragically, his long-term friends and colleagues, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, died in the crash. Ghami served as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach for over a decade, while Ayodele was his personal trainer.
Joshua Pays Final Respects
On Wednesday, 1 January 2026, the Lagos state commissioner for information, Gbenga Omotoso, confirmed Joshua’s release. In a joint statement with Ogun state, he said the boxer was “deemed clinically fit to recuperate from home.”
The statement also revealed a poignant detail: “Anthony and his mother were at the funeral home in Lagos this afternoon to pay their final respects to his two departed friends as they were being prepared for repatriation.”
Heartfelt Tributes from the Boxing World
The news has sent shockwaves through the sporting community, prompting an outpouring of grief. Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, posted a tribute online, saying their “energy and loyalty… will be deeply missed.”
Prominent figures including Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, and Wladimir Klitschko offered their condolences. Klitschko, a former opponent, described Joshua as a “true class act” and sent his best wishes.
Boxing pundit Steve Bunce emphasised the profound loss, describing the pair as “massive parts of the Anthony Joshua machine” and integral members of his tight-knit inner circle.
Families Remember ‘Angels’
Shahryar Rumi, the uncle of Sina Ghami, gave a moving tribute to his nephew, calling him an “angel living amongst us.” He told The Times: “Personally, there is no one kinder, no one more generous, no one more compassionate, no one more brotherly.”
He highlighted the deep friendship between Ghami and Joshua, noting that even on this trip to Nigeria, Ghami had accompanied the boxer so he wouldn’t be alone.
In an official joint statement, Joshua’s promotion and management companies, Matchroom and 258 MGT, expressed their “profound sadness” and requested privacy for the families. The focus remains on the immense personal tragedy for Joshua and the loved ones of the deceased, casting questions about his boxing future into stark perspective.
