Anthony Joshua’s career now in doubt as heartbroken friends speak out | Boxing | Sport
Mourners leaving tributes at the gym of Anthony Joshua’s coach believe it will be “very difficult” for him to continue his boxing career. Flowers and a lit candle are among the tokens left outside Evolve Gym in Colindale, north west London.
The gym was owned by Joshua’s dear friend Sina Ghami, who tragically lost his life in a car crash. Both Sina and Kevin Ayodele were killed instantly during their trip to Nigeria when their black Lexus Jeep, with Joshua also on board as a passenger, collided with a stationary red commercial Sinotruck.
Agash Satkunarajah, 26, from Harrow, who had met Sina, spent several minutes observing the tributes. He said: “It’s quite devastating to see that they went for a holiday and never came home. For AJ I just don’t know where this takes him. I think mentally he’s going to be broken. AJ used to come here and prepare for his fights. He was a close friend of Sina’s.
“Sina was his very good friend, but he was also his strength and conditioning coach so I think it will be very difficult for him to continue when two of the most important people in your boxing career have passed away sadly.”
One floral tribute placed outside the gym bore the message: “With deepest sympathy. So saddened for your loss, our thoughts and prayers are with Sina’s family at this such difficult time. RIP Sina. Martin, family and boys from Hendon Tyres.”
Another heartfelt message, decorated with a love heart and positioned beside a flickering candle, simply stated: “One of the best humans ever made”. A printed notice has also been affixed to the shutters, declaring that the establishment, along with its sister branch in South Ruislip, would remain shut for the day.
The statement reads: “With heavy hearts we announce the temporary closure of Evolve gyms on Tue 30th December as we mourn the loss of our beloved owner: Sina Ghami.
“Thank you for being such a supportive community during this difficult time. We will update you on our plans to re-open. Team Evolve”.
A woman, whose father operates the adjacent Cavendish Banqueting business, revealed that Joshua had visited the gym with Sina mere days earlier. She remarked: “It’s devastating… so sad. He was very outspoken, very friendly, very jolly. He was chatty all the time.
“He had a gorgeous dog Bella and took her everywhere. She’s a French Bulldog.”
She continued: “[Anthony Joshua] comes here all the time. He was here two days ago. My dad runs the business upstairs so he kind of phones up and says ‘I need a space’.”
Boxing champion Joshua narrowly escaped death after being dragged from the mangled remains of a car accident that claimed two lives in Nigeria. Joshua, who proudly sports a tattoo of Africa on his right shoulder, frequently visits Sagamu in Ogun State, the hometown of his family.
His parents, Yeta Odusanya and Robert Joshua, are both of Nigerian descent. Joshua, a former two-time heavyweight champion, is thought to have been on a week-long holiday following his knockout victory over Jake Paul, a 28-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer, in a £70 million match earlier this month.
This incident occurred shortly after Joshua’s six-round knockout of Paul, which resulted in Paul suffering a broken jaw in two places. The bout in Miami was watched by 33 million viewers on Netflix, with plans already underway for Joshua’s return to the ring in Riyadh in February or March.
On Christmas Eve, Joshua shared a photo of himself and a friend enjoying time by the swimming pool on his Instagram story. Following his victory over Paul, Joshua had been being primed for a face-off with Tyson Fury, 37, in September.
Despite retiring in January after his second consecutive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, 38, Fury, also known as the Gypsy King, continues to hint at a potential comeback. A disoriented Joshua, whose parents are both Nigerian, was in the backseat of a Lexus that collided with a stationary lorry.
