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Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua may be weighing the option of stepping away from the sport following a fatal car accident in Nigeria, his uncle, Adedamola Joshua, has revealed.
Speaking exclusively to The PUNCH, Adedamola disclosed that the 36-year-old boxer shared his thoughts on retirement with family members after surviving the crash, which claimed the lives of two close friends and key members of his team.
According to him, the decision has brought a sense of relief to the family, who have long endured emotional strain whenever Joshua stepped into the ring. He noted that the boxer’s willingness to walk away at the peak of his career was a source of comfort to loved ones.
The uncle confirmed that Joshua had personally communicated the decision to the family. He also disclosed that the boxer has pledged lifelong support to the families of the two victims, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, who were integral members of his camp.
Joshua broke his silence on Sunday with an emotional Instagram post, sharing photos with the bereaved families and pledging solidarity and support. Sources close to his camp said the boxer remains deeply committed to caring for the families of his late friends.
Ghami, Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, and Ayodele, his personal trainer, were travelling with him to Nigeria when their vehicle collided with a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Both men died at the scene, while Joshua was rescued from the wreckage and treated for minor injuries.
The boxing star later attended a funeral service in London, joining friends, family, and supporters to pay his last respects. Meanwhile, residents of Sagamu, Ogun State, expressed gratitude for his survival and sympathy for the bereaved families, describing Joshua as a source of pride to the community.
Addressing concerns about Joshua’s ties to Nigeria after the incident, his uncle stressed that family roots remain strong despite the trauma of the accident.
Police have since confirmed that the driver of the vehicle has been charged in connection with the crash, with the case adjourned until January 20.
Joshua, who was born in the United Kingdom to Nigerian parents, had been in Nigeria on holiday following his recent victory in the ring before the tragic incident occurred.