Anthony Joshua To ‘Retire From Boxing’ After Car Crash That Killed Friends

Anthony Joshua is set to retire from boxing following the car crash that killed his two best friends in Nigeria last Monday, claims his uncle.

Joshua, 36, escaped with minor injuries but his close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele died at the scene when the vehicle crashed into a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Makun. 

Their funerals took place at a London mosque on Sunday with Joshua in attendance to pay his respects. He also shared this photo alongside the family members of his deceased friends:

AJ fought just 10 days before the fatal crash, KO’ing Jake Paul in Miami on 19 December. He is yet to speak on his future following the tragedy, with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing providing no further comment either.

However, Joshua’s uncle Adedamola Joshua has claimed AJ is now ready to walk away from the sport.

Adedamola told Nigerian outlet 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.

‘Each time he’s knocked down, it is just like the heart is coming out of our chest. All these emotional feelings whenever he’s fighting, it’s too much trauma for us, also.

‘Now that he has said that he’s leaving while the ovation is highest, we are happy.’

Asked to clarify if Joshua has communicated that decision to the family, Adedamola responded: ‘Yes’.

Well, that’s a shame if true, but obviously there are a lot more important things in life than boxing. Nothing like watching your two friends die in a car crash that you survived to really make you put things into perspective. There’s also the matter of Joshua’s injuries potentially being worse than what has been reported.

Of course, Joshua has no need to box again. He’s a multi-millionaire, an accomplished legend, and banked $92 million just by knocking out Jake Paul a couple weeks ago. Still – never say never. This is boxing after all.

For word that Joshua was initially sitting in the front seat of the car before being asked by the driver to sit int he back instead, click HERE.