British professional boxer and heavyweight Anthony Joshua has been injured in a serious car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close members of his team. The former world champion, travelling as a passenger in a Lexus SUV, collided with a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Ogun State, near the city of Lagos. The crash occurred at around midday on Monday, on one of Nigeria’s busiest roads. Joshua was on his way from Lagos to Sagamu, which is a town in Ogun State. As stated by the Nigerian Government, the vehicle experienced a tire burst attributed to speeding, which caused the driver to lose control of it and collide with the truck. Two of the passengers in the car, Sina Ghami & Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, were confirmed dead. Ghami & Ayodele had been a part of Joshua’s inner circles for a long time. Ghami had even served as the strength & conditioning coach of Joshua for over a decade, while Ayodele was the personal trainer of the boxing champion.
Anthony Joshua Hospitalized but Stable Following High-Speed Collision
Police Commander Babatunde Akinbiyi of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) confirmed that Joshua and the driver had been rescued from the wreckage and taken to the hospital for treatment. However, Matchroom Boxing, representing Joshua, confirmed shortly thereafter that the boxer was stabilized and admitted to the hospital for observation and treatment. Representatives of the state governments of Ogun and Lagos have also confirmed that the boxer was conscious and communicating with his family.
Tributes Pour in as Boxing World Mourns Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele
(Image: Anthony Joshua's Accident in Nigeria)
Matchroom Boxing issued a statement that expressed their deepest sympathy over the loss of Ghami and Ayodele. "Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been affected," the statement read in relation to what Matchroom Boxing termed an “incredibly difficult time.”
Leading boxer promoter Eddie Hearn praised the two men by saying that they were "two great men that were massive parts of Joshua’s career." Steve Bunce, boxer analyst, felt that "They were massive parts of the Anthony Joshua machine, two of his closest friends around whom he had pretty much orbited his entire professional career." The crash happened tragically just hours after Joshua posted a video on his Instagram page showing himself playing table tennis with Ayodele, highlighting how suddenly it all happened. Images and videos shared by the Federal Road Safety Corps of Nigeria show the badly damaged SUV amidst crowds at the site of the crash. Eyewitness footage captured the moment Joshua was pulled out from the rear seat of the wrecked car.
A Word from the President
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria called Joshua personally to sympathize and wished him a full and speedy recovery. The president, in a public message, said the boxer assured him that he was receiving the best possible medical care.
Joshua, from Watford in the UK, has strong family ties in Sagamu and was said to be on his way to join relatives for New Year festivities. He had been in Nigeria after his recent high-profile win over Jake Paul in early January. Accidents on the Lagos–Ibadan expressway are well known, and they tend to increase during the holiday season because of the main road congestion. While the tributes keep coming from all over the world, the main concern is still Joshua's healing and the respect for the two fellows, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele who passed away, and whose significant influence on Joshua's life and career was immense, they are remembered as devoted professionals and true friends.
