Anthony Joshua’s uncle has stated that the former world champion has communicated his intention to retire after a tragic car accident in which two of his close friends lost their lives.
The ex-two-time heavyweight world champion was a passenger in a Lexus SUV involved in a collision with a stationary truck on a major expressway near Lagos, Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele. The funerals of the deceased were held at a London mosque on Sunday.
Prior to attending the funeral, ‘AJ’ shared two images on Instagram, seated with his mother and three other women, one of whom held a photo of Ghami. Alongside the post, the British boxing star captioned, ‘My Brothers Keeper’.
Following the recent tragic incident, Joshua is contemplating retirement and has reportedly disclosed his decision to his family privately. Adedamola Joshua mentioned to 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.”
Despite reports from Nigeria, Mirror Fighting understands that Joshua has not yet finalized a decision about his future.
During Sunday’s funeral service, the coffins of Ghami and Ayodele were placed side by side as the Janaza prayer was recited. A crowd assembled outside the mosque to pay their respects before the coffins were moved to a nearby crematorium.
The driver of the vehicle, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, has been charged over the crash, facing allegations of causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care, and driving without a valid license. He was granted bail pending meeting the bail conditions.
Joshua spent time in the hospital following the accident and was discharged on New Year’s Eve before returning to the UK. Witness Ajala Yusuf recounted seeing Joshua rescued from the car, expressing shock at the severity of the incident.
Stunning revelations emerged that Joshua had initially been seated in the front of the vehicle but was asked to move to the back by the driver, a decision that potentially saved his life. After Kayode’s charges, his lawyer stated that it was an accident and that the brakes had allegedly failed.
Joshua had been in Nigeria after defeating boxer Jake Paul, earning a significant sum from the match. Reports of a potential fight between Joshua and Fury in 2026 had circulated before the crash, but uncertainties have arisen following the recent events.
Reflecting on the tragic incident, boxing promoter Frank Warren highlighted the impact on Joshua and emphasized that boxing would not be a priority for him at the moment.
Joshua rose to fame after winning gold at the 2012 Olympics, transitioning to a successful professional career. His notable victories include becoming a world champion in 2015, defeating Klitschko in 2017, and defending his titles against various opponents. Despite setbacks, Joshua displayed resilience in his career but faced challenges in his pursuit of a third world title.
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