Anthony Joshua has posted a video thanking fans for their support following the deaths of his two close friends in a car crash while acknowledging that death does not frighten him, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The former world heavyweight champion, 36, sustained minor injuries in the incident in Nigeria on December 29, which killed Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
Joshua, along with Ghami and Ayodele, was a passenger in the vehicle when it collided with a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos.
Ghami and Ayodele were both pronounced dead at the scene, while Joshua was pictured being helped from the wreckage.
In a six-minute video posted on his social media channels, the British heavyweight acknowledged supporters worldwide “who were showing so much love, support through that tragic, traumatic time”.
He added, “One day my time will come, and I’m not scared either at all. It’s actually comforting knowing I got two brothers on the other side. I’ve lost people before, but I don’t think I’ve lost people like that. My left and my right.”
The two friends were also part of Joshua’s team, with Ghami as his strength and conditioning coach and Ayodele as his personal trainer.
Joshua said the trio formed a close bond and were living together, adding, “We became business partners. We became hustlers. We became lieutenants. We became generals. We became everything.”
Joshua continued, “Not only did their parents, their uncles, their cousins, their friends, and myself lose two great men, we lost people that we dearly care about and have been major players in all of our lives. It’s tough. It’s really tough.”
Joshua added he will help Ghami and Ayodele’s families “achieve their goals” and “fulfil their dreams”.
“I’m sure their parents 100 per cent are proud of them because I am.”
Last week, Adeniyi Kayode, 46, the chauffeur who was driving the Lexus SUV, appeared in court in Nigeria and has been charged with four offences, including causing death by dangerous driving.
Earlier this month, Joshua returned to the gym, posting a video on Snapchat of him hitting the pads and working out, with the message “mental strength therapy”.
While Joshua has not said whether he will fight again, promoter Eddie Hearn believes he will return to boxing “when the time is right”.
Meanwhile, his uncle Adedamola Joshua expects him to announce retirement.
Joshua also thanked several people for their support, including doctors at Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos, President Bola Tinubu, Femi Otedola, Aliko Dangote, Senator Daisy Danjuma, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, and governors of Lagos and Ogun states.
After the accident, the remains of Ghami and Ayodele were flown back to the United Kingdom, where a joint funeral prayer was held at a London mosque on January 4.
