Luke Littler sent his best wishes to Anthony Joshua after he went back-to-back at the Ally Pally on Saturday evening after the boxer was hospitalised in a fatal car crash
Luke Littler paid tribute to Anthony Joshua’s two friends who died in a fatal car crash that left the boxer hospitalised last week.
Littler, 18, wrapped up back-to-back Paddy Power PDC World Darts Championship wins after a demolition job over Gian van Veen on Saturday evening, demoralising the Dutchman with a 7-1 win at the Ally Pally.
And speaking to Sky Sports after getting his hands on the Sid Waddell trophy, Littler took the time to send his best wishes to the former heavyweight champion: “It feels amazing. First of all thanks to John McDonald and John Noble – what a fantastic career they have had.
“In my first year Russ Bray retired, now these two legends! I’m a bit late to the party!
“I’ve been wanting to say this. Everyone knows what happened with Anthony Joshua and his guy and his team and his friends.
“Just like AJ said ‘the first time was so nice, I had to do it twice!’.”
Joshua sustained minor injuries in the crash and was taken to hospital but two of his entourage, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, were killed.
The British boxer was sat behind the driver when the SUV impacted with the truck on the passenger side, killing both occupants of the vehicle that were sitting on the other side.
However, according to the Daily Mail, Joshua cheated death after swapping seats from the front to the back of the car with Latif midway through the journey.
The driver of the vehicle, Kayode Adeniyi, 46, has been charged by police in Nigeria after the horror crash. Police sources have told the BBC the charges included causing death by dangerous driving and were heard at the Sagamu Magistrate Court on Friday.
Adeniyi, who has worked for Joshua as a chauffeur for more than three years, appeared in court wearing a black Muslim kaftan and pleaded not guilty. He claims he is innocent and the car’s brakes failed.
The driver’s lawyer Olalekan Abiodun told the Daily Mail: “My client has pleaded not guilty and what happened was an accident, I haven’t had a full chance to speak with him yet but I know he is saying the brakes did not work.
“I also understand that the journey started in Lagos and that initially Anthony had got into the front seat but the driver asked him to swap seats.”
This is said to have happened because Joshua’s big frame meant the driver couldn’t see the wing mirror properly so asked him to switch and sit behind the driver.
“From what I understand Latif was in front and then changed seats with Anthony,” he added.