BRITISH-Nigerian born world boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, has paid an emotional tribute to his late friends, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
The 36-year-old former world heavyweight champion sustained minor injuries in the incident in Nigeria on December 29, last year, that killed Ghami and Ayodele.
Joshua, along with Ghami and Ayodele, were passengers in the vehicle when it collided with a stationary truck on the busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Ogun State.
Ghami and Ayodele were both pronounced dead at the scene, while Joshua was pictured being helped from the wreckage.
In a six-minute video, external posted on his social media channels, the British heavyweight acknowledged supporters worldwide “who were showing so much love, support through that tragic, traumatic time.”
He added: “One day, my time will come and I’m not scared either at all. It’s actually comforting knowing I got two brothers on the other side.
“I’ve lost people before, but I don’t think I’ve lost people like that. My left and my right.”
The two friends were also part of Joshua’s team, with Ghami his strength and conditioning coach and Ayodele his personal trainer.
Joshua said the trio formed a close bond and were living together, adding: “We became business partners. We became hustlers. We became lieutenants. We became generals. We became everything.”
Last week, Adeniyi Kayode, 46, the chauffeur who was driving the Lexus SUV, charged with four offences, including causing death by dangerous driving.
Joshua continued: “Not only did their parents, their uncles, their cousins, their friends and myself lose two great men, we lost people that we dearly care about and have been major players in all of our lives.
“It’s tough. It’s really tough.”
The boxer vowed to help Ghami and Ayodele’s families “achieve their goals” and “fulfill their dreams.
“I’m sure their parents 100 per cent are proud of them [because] I am.”
Earlier this month, Joshua returned to the gym, posting a video on Snapchat of him hitting the pads and working out, with the message, “mental strength therapy.”
While he has not said whether he will fight again, promoter, Eddie Hearn, believes he will return to boxing “when the time is right.”
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