Former world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, has spoken emotionally about the deaths of two close friends who lost their lives in a fatal car accident.
Joshua made the remarks during a conversation with UFC star Kamaru Usman, captured in a YouTube video shared by Usman on Wednesday. The discussion took place while Joshua was recovering from injuries sustained in the crash and ahead of an MMA event held in Lagos on December 30.
The accident occurred on December 29 along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and claimed the lives of Joshua’s friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Joshua survived the crash and was pulled from the wreckage before being rushed to Duchess International Hospital, where he received medical treatment.
Video footage showed Joshua lying in a hospital treatment room with bandages on his head and torso as he reflected on the tragedy. He admitted that the reality of the loss had not fully sunk in. After his discharge, Joshua returned to the United Kingdom.
During the conversation, Usman, a former UFC welterweight champion, asked about the seating arrangement in the black Lexus vehicle at the time of the crash. Joshua explained that one of the victims was seated in front while the other was behind him on the right side.
“One was in the front and one was behind him, on the right side. They both passed away. It still hasn’t sunk in. It still hasn’t hit me yet,” Joshua said.
“I’m sorry for that, man. You scared the world,” Usman responded.
“Life is short. Life is short. And now look, I get to speak with you for the first time,” Joshua added.
Usman replied, “It’s a funny way how things move. We thank God,” noting that the incident revealed how many people genuinely cared about the boxer.
DIP Connects Online News earlier reported that Joshua later broke his silence on social media, sharing a photo of himself with the families of the deceased. He captioned the image, “My Brother’s Keeper,” showing solidarity with the bereaved families during their time of grief.
Elijah Adeyemi
