Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua may be stepping away from professional boxing following a devastating road accident in Nigeria that killed two integral members of his training team and left the British-Nigerian pugilist grappling with profound grief.
The tragedy, which occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway last week, has prompted the 36-year-old boxer to privately inform his family of his intention to retire from the sport, according to relatives who spoke with The Punch newspaper.
Adedamola Joshua, the boxer’s uncle, disclosed in an interview published on Monday that the former unified heavyweight champion had communicated the decision to relatives in the immediate aftermath of the fatal collision. For a family that has endured years of anxiety watching their son compete at the highest level of one of sport’s most brutal disciplines, the news brought a complicated sense of relief.
“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,” Adedamola told the publication.
He painted a vivid picture of the emotional burden the family has carried throughout Joshua’s decorated career. “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,” he said, confirming that Joshua had personally conveyed his intentions to the family.
The accident claimed the lives of Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, both long-standing figures in Joshua’s boxing camp who had become more than colleagues to the fighter. Ghami served as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, while Ayodele worked as his personal trainer. The two men were part of the tight-knit circle that helped Joshua navigate the punishing demands of elite-level boxing.
The three were travelling together in a Lexus SUV when the vehicle collided with a stationary truck on the notoriously dangerous Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a stretch of road that has witnessed countless fatal accidents over the years despite repeated government pledges to improve safety infrastructure.
Joshua was pulled from the wreckage and rushed to hospital, where he was treated for what medical officials described as minor injuries. Ghami and Ayodele were pronounced dead at the scene. The loss of the two men has sent shockwaves through the boxing community, where both were well-regarded professionals.
In the days following the tragedy, Joshua made a solemn pledge to support the families of the deceased for life, a commitment that underscores the depth of his relationship with the two men and the weight of responsibility he appears to feel in the wake of their deaths.
He broke his public silence on Sunday with a poignant Instagram post showing him alongside the bereaved relatives. The image was captioned simply “My Brothers Keeper,” accompanied by heart emojis and a military helmet symbol, a gesture that has been interpreted as both a tribute and a vow of enduring solidarity.
Joshua attended an emotional funeral service for Ghami and Ayodele at the London Central Mosque on Sunday, where mourners gathered to observe the Janaza prayers in accordance with Islamic rites. The solemn ceremony was followed by burial proceedings later in the day, as family, friends, and members of the boxing fraternity came together to pay their final respects.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command has taken legal action in connection with the crash. Adeniyi Kayode, identified as the driver of the vehicle at the time of the collision, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving and related offences under Nigerian traffic law. Kayode has denied the charges. The case has been adjourned until January 20, when further proceedings are expected to take place.
The tragedy occurred while Joshua was on holiday in Nigeria, a visit that followed his December 19 knockout victory over American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami. That fight, part of Joshua’s ongoing campaign to reclaim his status as a dominant force in the heavyweight division, had been seen as a successful step in rebuilding his career after setbacks in recent years.
Joshua, born in Watford to Nigerian parents, has long maintained strong ties to his ancestral homeland. His visits to Nigeria have often drawn widespread media attention and public interest, reflecting his status as one of the most recognisable Nigerian-British figures in global sport.
His boxing career has been one of remarkable highs and painful lows. Joshua turned professional in 2013 after winning Olympic gold at the London 2012 Games, a victory that made him a national hero in Britain and a source of immense pride for Nigerians. He went on to capture the IBF, WBA, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles, cementing his place among the elite of the division.
However, his career has also been marked by significant defeats, including back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022, which cost him his unified titles. Despite efforts to rebuild, questions about his future direction have persisted, with some critics suggesting his best years may be behind him.
The decision to retire, if finalised, would bring an end to one of the most compelling narratives in modern British boxing. Joshua’s story has been one of redemption, resilience, and the pursuit of greatness, but it has also been shadowed by the physical and psychological toll that comes with competing at the highest level of a sport where every bout carries the risk of serious injury.
For his family, the prospect of retirement appears to offer a measure of peace. The emotional strain of watching a loved one absorb punches in front of thousands, knowing that each blow could have lasting consequences, is a reality that few outside the sport fully understand. Adedamola’s candid remarks reflect the often-overlooked human cost of professional boxing, not just for the fighters themselves but for those who care for them.
