Manny Ita
British boxing star Anthony Joshua has spoken for the first time in detail about a tragic car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two members of his inner circle. In an emotional video titled “My Brothers Keeper For Life” released on his YouTube channel, the 36-year-old former heavyweight champion wept as he described the loss of his personal trainer, Latif “Latz” Ayodele, and his recovery therapist, Sina Ghami.
The incident occurred on December 29 near Lagos, while the group was on holiday visiting family. Joshua was a passenger in a black SUV when it collided with a stationary truck. While the boxer escaped with minor injuries after a brief hospital stay, Ayodele and Ghami, both 36, were killed in the crash. A chauffeur has since appeared in a Nigerian court charged with four offenses, including death by dangerous driving.
“Not only did their parents, their uncles, their cousins, their friends and myself lose like two great men, we lost people that we dearly care about,” Joshua said, describing the pair as “major players in all of our lives.” He revealed the depth of their daily connection, noting that he had been living with both men, who served as integral parts of his professional camp. “They’re my brothers, they’re my friends first and foremost,” he added.
The heavyweight reflected on how the tragedy altered the trajectory of his year, stating: “We had so many plans to wrap up 2025, and we were on a mission. We went back home, went to see our families, and everything just got flipped upside on its head.” The experience has also led Joshua to contemplate his own mortality. “One day my time will come, and I’m not scared either at all,” he said. “It’s actually comforting knowing that I’ve got two brothers on the other side.”
Despite the trauma of the accident, Joshua indicated that he intends to continue his boxing career, viewing his future fights as a tribute to his deceased friends. “I’ve lost people before, but I don’t think I’ve lost people like that, my left and my right,” he explained. “The mission must go on… I understand my duty. I’m gonna do what’s right by them. I’m gonna do what’s right by their family.”
Ayodele was a well-known figure in the British-Nigerian community and a former semi-professional footballer for several clubs, including Aylesbury United. Ghami, a co-founder of Evolve Gym in London, had worked as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach for over a decade. Joshua, who has since returned to London to attend their funerals, concluded the address by thanking his global fanbase for their support during what he described as a “tragic, traumatic time.”
