Manny Ita
LAGOS, NIGERIA — Former two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua is reportedly considering retirement from professional boxing following a fatal car accident in Nigeria last Monday that claimed the lives of two close associates.
The incident occurred on a major expressway near Lagos when a Lexus SUV, in which Joshua was a passenger, collided with a stationary truck. The crash resulted in the deaths of Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele.
While Joshua has not made a public declaration, his uncle, Adedamola Joshua, stated that the fighter has privately informed his family of his intent to step away from the sport.
“The major thing there is that he has retired from boxing,” Adedamola Joshua disclosed. “That is one thing that makes us glad because each time he’s fighting in the ring, we are always carried away emotionally. Each time he’s knocked down, it is just like the heart is coming out of our chest… Now that he has said that he’s leaving while the ovation is highest, we are happy.”
Despite these familial claims, Mirror Fighting reports that Joshua has yet to make a formal decision regarding his career. Promoter Frank Warren expressed uncertainty regarding a previously discussed 2026 bout with Tyson Fury.
”Well, boxing will certainly be the last thing on his mind, right now,” Warren told The Mirror. “He’s obviously lost two team members who were good, close friends… Boxing again will be the last thing on his mind, but tragedy can affect people in different ways; sometimes, you need something you can really focus on to pull through to the other side.”
Reports indicate that Joshua narrowly escaped death due to a last-minute seating change. According to legal counsel for the driver, Joshua was originally in the front passenger seat but moved to the rear because his stature obstructed the driver’s view of the wing mirror.
Eyewitness Ajala Yusuf described the scene to Sky News: “We heard a noise, boom. We thought it was one of those trucks whose tyre had burst. We then saw a car drive under a truck that was parked on the highway… He [Joshua] was shocked at the deadliness of the incident. He was shocked. He couldn’t talk.”
Joshua received hospital treatment for several days before being discharged on New Year’s Eve and returning to the United Kingdom on Friday.
The driver of the vehicle, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, appeared before the Sagamu Magistrate Court charged with:
- Causing death by dangerous driving
- Reckless and negligent driving
- Driving without due care
- Driving without a valid driver’s licence
”The defendant was granted bail in the sum of five million naira ($3,480) with two sureties,” stated DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi of the Ogun State Police Command. Kayode has pleaded not guilty, with his lawyer citing mechanical failure, stating, “I know he is saying the brakes did not work.”
On Sunday, Joshua attended the Janaza (Islamic funeral prayer) for Ghami and Ayodele. He later posted a tribute on Instagram featuring a photo with his mother and family members, captioned “My Brothers Keeper.”
The tragedy follows Joshua’s recent sixth-round knockout victory over Jake Paul, a bout that reportedly earned the Briton £70 million.
