Anthony Joshua was injured in a horror car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of his friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele
Police believe the fatal crash that claimed the lives of two members of Anthony Joshua’s team and left the heavyweight boxer injured was caused by a tyre that burst “due to excessive speed”.
The former world champion, 36, was a rear passenger in a Lexus SUV that smashed into a stationary truck on a major expressway in Ogun State, near Lagos in Nigeria, at around 11am on Monday, December 29. Joshua’s close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, both 36, were killed in the tragic incident, the boxer’s promoter Matchroom Boxing confirmed.
Matchroom said Joshua was in a stable condition in hospital, where he was taken for “checks and treatment” and will remain for observation. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Nigeria previously said the Lexus was suspected of travelling over the speed limit and crashing while overtaking.
Police Commander Babatunde Akinbiyi, of Nigeria’s Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), has now said early investigations show the Lexus was travelling along the highway from Lagos to Sagamu when it “experienced a tyre burst due to excessive speed” and then “lost control”.
Mr Akinbiyi said Joshua and the driver were rescued from the wreckage and taken to a hospital in Sagamu for treatment. The two other passengers – Mr Ghami and Mr Ayodele – were pronounced dead at the scene, Mr Akinbiyi added.
Meanwhile, Ogun State Police Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo told ESPN: “The accident happened as a result of a burst tire on AJ’s vehicle, which caused the driver to lose control and the vehicle to swerve into the stationary truck parked along the road.”
In a statement Matchroom said: “Our deepest condolences and prayers are with the families and friends of all those affected – and we ask that their privacy is respected at this incredibly difficult time.”
The group’s chairman and Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn, paid tribute to the “two great men” who were killed in the crash. He said: “Rest in eternal peace Sina and Latz. My thoughts and deepest prayers are with everyone.”
Boxing expert Steve Bunce described Mr Ghami and Mr Ayodele as “two of Joshua’s closest friends” and as “massive parts of the Anthony Joshua machine”.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “They’ve been with him, if not from the start, at least very early on. Latz is AJ’s personal trainer and Sina is his strength and conditioning man. They are with him all the time.
Hours before the crash, Joshua posted a video to Instagram of himself and Ayodele playing table tennis. Ghami had recently posted on social media from Lagos.
A joint statement from the Ogun and Lagos state governments said Joshua, who was stable and conscious, had been in contact with his family. They said Joshua “narrowly escaped death” in the crash and there will be a “comprehensive investigation” into the incident.
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said he had spoken to the Watford fighter personally to convey his condolences and wish him a “full and speedy recovery”. “AJ assured me he is receiving the best possible care,” he said in a post on X.
Joshua has family roots in Sagamu – a town in Ogun State. He had been spending time celebrating with friends and family in Nigeria after his victory over American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on December 19.
Paul posted on X after the crash: “Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.”
Ghami who had worked with Joshua on his strength and conditioning for more than 10 years, also co-founded the London-based gym Evolve. The gym said it will close on December 30 “as we mourn the loss of our beloved owner”.