Anthony Joshua ‘retires from boxing’ after deadly automotive crash that killed buddies

Anthony Joshua’s uncle has claimed the former world champion has told his family he will retire from boxing after the fatal car crash.

The former two-time unified heavyweight world champion was a passenger in a car crash in Nigeria last Monday that tragically killed two of his close friends.

Joshua was able to miraculously escape the incident with minor injuries and was taken to a hospital in Lagos, but the crash claimed the lives of Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.

AJ has since returned home and attended the funerals of his two friends and trainers on Sunday at a mosque in London. He paid tribute before the funeral, posting two images on Instagram sitting next to his mum and three other women, with one holding a photograph of Ghami, alongside the caption: “My Brothers Keeper”.

Joshua’s uncle Adedamola Joshua has since claimed that the 36-year-old informed his family of his decision to hang up his gloves in the wake of the tragedy.

Adedamola told The Punch: “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.

“Each time he’s knocked down, it is just like the heart is coming out of our chest. All these emotional feelings whenever he’s fighting, it’s too much trauma for us, also. Now that he has said that he’s leaving while the ovation is highest, we are happy.”

Despite the claims, Joshua is yet to make his decision on his career public and is reportedly still considering his future.

Joshua made his return to the ring for the first time in 15 months since his knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois against Jake Paul in Miami on December 19. AJ claimed victory by knockout in the sixth round and appeared set to attempt to rebuild his career towards another shot at a world title fight.

But his life was turned upside by the crash and he spent several days receiving hospital treatment before flying back to England.

The Ogun State Police Command confirmed on Friday that the driver of the SUV that Joshua was a passenger in, Adeniyi Mobolaji, had been charged over the crash at the Sagamu Magistrate Court.

He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care, and driving without a valid driver’s licence. “The defendant was granted bail in the sum of five million naira ($3,480) with two sureties. He was remanded pending when he meets his bail condition,” DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi told AFP.