Anthony Joshua opens up about tragic car crash in Nigeria
Anthony Joshua has revealed that the fatal car crash in Nigeria last December, which claimed the lives of his two closest friends, nearly pushed him to the brink of insanity, reports BritPanorama.
The 36-year-old former two-time unified heavyweight champion was travelling with Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele when their vehicle collided with a large truck on a Nigerian motorway. Both men, who occupied the right-hand side of the car, were killed instantly as that portion of the vehicle was destroyed. The left side remained largely intact, enabling Joshua to survive with damaged ribs as his only physical injuries.
The driver of the vehicle escaped unharmed and fled the scene. Ghami and Ayodele were far more than associates — they were Joshua’s constant companions who shared his Dubai home. Speaking on the emotional toll of the incident, Joshua insisted he refuses to let grief consume him.
“I’m not going to make it about me, because someone somewhere has just lost their mum or just lost their dad, so you have to keep it together,” he said. “It is hard, but if you let it get to you, it’ll ruin you.” The Watford-born fighter stressed the importance of perspective, acknowledging that countless others endure similar heartbreak daily.
Joshua added, “You just have to humble yourself and not make it all about you. The whole world unfortunately doesn’t stop for my situation,” before emphasizing his resolve: “If I was to let it get to me, I’d probably end up going crazy.”
Reflecting on the tragedy’s impact, he stated, “Has it changed me? My core self is strong. So has it changed my core self? No. But I definitely look at things a lot differently.” He remarked on the unpredictability of life, noting, “Fate is something that you can never predict,” highlighting the uncertainty of his career and upcoming fights.
Joshua declared at a May press conference that he never contemplated retirement, vowing instead to continue fighting in memory of Ghami and Ayodele. Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn expressed difficulty in understanding how Joshua has shouldered such a burden throughout his ten-week training camp, remarking, “When the head hits the pillow at night, you never really know what anyone’s thinking or what they’re going through.”
Hearn noted that Joshua had to return to the Dubai residence he once shared with both men, describing it as “unbelievable strength.” Barry Hearn, Matchroom’s chairman, suggested that going through such a disaster has given Joshua a sense of purpose, stating, “In a bizarre way, it has given him the feeling that he’s been spared for a purpose.”
Joshua’s comeback takes him back to the Jeddah Superdome, where he suffered an emotionally charged defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in 2022. Remarkably, Usyk is now assisting in Joshua’s preparations, which Joshua describes as a unique element of his story.
Facing Kristian Prenga on Saturday, a 6ft 5in Albanian known for his knockout power, Joshua is viewed as gearing up for a planned November showdown with Tyson Fury. Barry Hearn has insisted that Joshua is primed for this next bout, stating, “He’s ready to inflict some serious pain on Saturday that’s for sure.”
As Joshua embodies resilience amid personal turmoil, the unfolding narrative of his career serves as a compelling reminder of the intersections between the sport and life’s unpredictable turns.
