Joshua releases heartbreaking statement on friends killed in car crash | Boxing | Sport
Anthony Joshua paid tribute to the two close friends he lost in the tragic car crash that rocked the boxing world with a heartbreaking statement.
Kevin Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami died in the collision in Nigeria, while Joshua was taken to hospital for his injuries. The boxer had been holidaying in his parents’ birthplace, following his triumph over Jake Paul, when his vehicle collided with a stationary lorry on one of the nation’s most perilous thoroughfares.
Joshua’s driver was charged last week with causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care, and driving without a valid driver’s licence. The former heavyweight champion has since returned to the United Kingdom and attended the funeral of his friends in London over the weekend.
“Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers. I didn’t even realise how special they are. 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 on Instagram.
“100% it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents. I have a strong mind, and I believe God knows their hearts. May God have mercy on my brothers.”
It had been suggested that Joshua could hang up his gloves following the incident. It is understood the 36-year-old has no intention of that just yet, but asked for an update, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn told talkSPORT that it is too early for talk about his star’s career.
Hearn said: “I think to be honest at this stage, it’s definitely a no comment from us. Just because of the respect to Anthony.
“Obviously with everything he’s been through with the tragic loss of Sina and Latz. At the moment, Anthony needs time. Time and privacy. There will be no conversations from us about a career, any moves, what’s next.
“This is a terrible tragedy and Anthony’s going to need his own time, physically and emotionally.
“And at the moment, there’s nothing to discuss or say. Let’s give him his time and pray for him and of course all the families involved in this terrible incident.”
Joshua was expected to step back into the ring as soon as Valentine’s Day in Saudi Arabia. The former Olympian is also reportedly scheduled to clash with long-standing rival Tyson Fury in September, following Fury’s declaration of an end to his year-long hiatus from the sport.
Speaking after victory over Paul, Joshua called out the Gypsy King.
“If Tyson Fury is as serious as he thinks he is, and he wants to put down his Twitter fingers and put on some gloves and come and fight one of the realest fighters out there that will take on any challenge, step into the ring with me next if you’re a real bad boy,” Joshua said. “Don’t do all that talking: ‘AJ this, AJ that’. Let’s see you in the ring and talk with your fists.”
Following the devastating crash, Joshua’s uncle claimed that the fighter had informed his family that he intends to retire.
Adedamola Joshua told The Punch in Nigeria: “The major thing there is that he has retired from boxing. That is one thing that makes us glad because each time he’s fighting in the ring, we are always carried away emotionally.” However, that is not been confirmed with AJ yet to make a decision on his future.
