This is a tragic story. When faced with a situation like this, it’s amazing how the boxing community comes together.
I think we were all shocked by the news when it trickled through. I received a message that Anthony Joshua had been involved in a car accident in Nigeria and soon after the details came out that two people had been killed but he had survived.
Then it was released in a statement that they were two close friends of his and key long-term members of his team, Sina Ghami and Kevin ‘Latif’ Ayodele.
AJ has had a large following over the years, from which it has grown. But Sina and Latif – or ‘Latz’ as he was called – were there pretty much from the start.
They were very recognizable faces. I’ve been in the company of Sina, AJ’s strength and conditioner, a few times. On fight nights, he was the man preparing Joshua in the final moments before the bell.
The outpouring of love that has flowed since is just incredible. We’ve also seen some of our sport’s biggest names share their support and condolences for all involved, including Tyson Fury, Derek Chisora, Chris Eubank Jr, Jake Paul, Adam Azim, Conor Benn and Wladimir Klitschko.
Sina and Latif were inner members of his team. AJ is going to feel it very hard.
It was truly disturbing to see the videos that surfaced on social media on Monday.
Badou Jack, the former World Cruiserweight Champion and World Multiweight Champion, is involved in a project to raise some money.
He was very close to Latz. Jack took the initiative and got involved in a project online hoping to raise some money, targeting £50,000, to build a mosque in Latif’s honor and a borehole for water.
It has already surpassed £137,000 as the outpouring continues and everyone is sending their thoughts, prayers, sympathies and condolences not only to AJ but the people around the two families.
‘Difficult to put into words what has happened’
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Friends pay tribute to the two passengers, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, who sadly died after a car crash with Anthony Joshua in Nigeria
AJ is still in the hospital, under observation and recovering. I have approached their team privately.
But at the moment it is very difficult to treat for everyone. With stories like this, it’s a blessing and a curse, social media – there’s plenty of detail out there, but also some false information.
I’ll stick with the proven until I see it from one of the real sources close to Anthony Joshua, which is 258 BXG and his team, or Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing.
I’ll refrain from speculating other than to say he’s going to need a hell of a lot of time and space to process this physically and mentally.
It is very difficult to put into words or even try to imagine what he is going through at the moment.
The next few days will not be easy. He appeared to be in serious distress being lifted out of the car, but he will also come to terms with the fact that he has lost two of his closest friends who have been with him through good times and bad.
Life can be so fragile and this is a cruel reminder of that. All our thoughts are with him, his team and the families of Sina and Latif.