The weight of grief settled heavily on Anthony Joshua, a sorrow compounded by the sudden loss of two cherished friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, in a devastating car crash in Nigeria. The December 29th accident on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway left Joshua shaken, pulled from the wreckage and treated for injuries, while his companions were tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
Ghami and Ayodele weren’t simply acquaintances; they were integral members of Joshua’s team, steadfast friends who had witnessed his rise to boxing prominence. Their presence was a constant, a quiet strength behind the champion’s journey.
In a heartfelt message shared online, Joshua expressed profound gratitude for the outpouring of support, admitting he hadn’t fully grasped the depth of their impact on his life. He spoke of shared jokes and everyday moments, now imbued with a poignant significance, realizing he’d been blessed by their presence.
The pain, he acknowledged, was immense, but his heart ached especially for the families left behind. Joshua’s faith offered a glimmer of solace, a belief that a higher power understood the hearts of those lost.
Footage surfaced of a conversation Joshua had with UFC fighter Kamaru Usman just a day after the crash, revealing the raw immediacy of his grief. He quietly shared the news of his friends’ passing, the words still feeling unreal, the loss yet to fully register.
“One was in the front and one was behind him, on the right side,” Joshua recounted, his voice heavy with disbelief. “They both passed away. It still hasn’t sunk in.” The conversation, initially recorded unknowingly by Usman, offered a glimpse into the boxer’s stunned state.
Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, a long-time friend, had been with Joshua since his first world title victory in 2016. He was more than a trainer; he was a dedicated companion, a convert to Islam whose Instagram feed showcased a close bond with Joshua, filled with gym sessions and lighthearted moments.
Just hours before the tragedy, a video of Joshua and Ayodele laughing over a game of table tennis surfaced, a bittersweet reminder of the joy that had been so abruptly extinguished. Ayodele’s influence extended beyond boxing, having worked with other athletes like Sonny Bill Williams.
Sina Ghami, Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach for over a decade, was a foundational figure in his career. He co-founded Evolve Gym, bringing expertise in sports rehabilitation and injury prevention to Joshua’s training regimen. Ghami was present at Joshua’s defining moment against Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium.
His final Instagram story, a fleeting image of Joshua’s motorcade in Lagos, now carries a haunting weight. Ghami’s dedication and expertise had been a constant throughout Joshua’s ascent.
The shockwaves of the tragedy prompted calls for space and privacy for Joshua. His promoter emphasized the need for time to grieve, acknowledging the profound emotional and physical toll the loss had taken. The focus now is on allowing Joshua to heal, to mourn, and to find his way forward.
