Anthony Joshua issues emotional first remarks since car accident in Nigeria that killed two close friends

 

Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua issued his first public remarks after a tragic car accident in Nigeria took two lives.

Anthony Joshua suffered the loss of two of his longtime team members in a car accident last month in Nigeria. Joshua, who defeated Jake Paul just days before the crash, suffered minor injuries and received treatment at a local hospital.

It was a scary and tragic moment for Joshua, the victims, and their families. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and a 46-year-old man was charged with death by dangerous driving, according to police.

Joshua recently video-called with former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, a fellow Nigerian, after the accident. But Joshua has remained relatively quiet on social media since the accident as he begins his grieving process.

Anthony Joshua makes first public statement since fatal car accident

In a recent social media post, Joshua spoke about the accident and paid tribute to his two teammates.

“Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers,” Joshua said. “I didn’t even realise how special they are. I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men.

“100 percent it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents. I have a strong mind, and I believe God knows their hearts. May God have mercy on my brothers.”

Joshua is considered one of the top heavyweight fighters on the planet and is reportedly set to fight Tyson Fury in a heavyweight match later this year. Fury hasn’t fought since suffering back-to-back losses to Joshua’s former foe Oleksandr Usyk.

In the meantime, Joshua and his family are dealing with the aftermath of the horrific car accident. This is a developing story and we’ll continue to update you as new details become available.

By Curtis Calhoun, BJPENN.COM

Related story: Police arrest Joshua’s driver after boxer discharged

Police arrest Joshua’s driver after boxer discharged

The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of Kayode Adeniyi, the 47-year-old driver of the ill-fated Lexus SUV that crashed on Monday, killing two of Anthony Joshua’s closest friends, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The spokesperson for the state police command, Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, adding that investigations are ongoing.

Adeniyi, a long-standing member of Joshua’s Nigerian logistics team, was discharged from the hospital in Lagos late on New Year’s Eve and driven two hours north to Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, where the fatal crash occurred.

Police sources revealed that Adeniyi is expected to be charged with reckless driving within 48 hours, though the bank holiday may delay proceedings.

“The driver was released after treatment for minor injuries and was then taken to the state police headquarters for questioning. He is in a stable condition and was able to provide us with his version of events that led up to the crash,” a police source told Daily Mail.

Adeniyi was allegedly driving way over the 65mph speed limit for the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when he lost control after a tyre burst during an overtaking manoeuvre near Danco.

The Lexus, carrying Joshua and two of his training staff, Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele, smashed into an illegally parked truck, which was carrying soya beans.

The force of the impact tore the nearside section of the car away. Ghami, 36, a British citizen, and Ayodele, 36, a Nigerian/British citizen, were killed instantly, while Joshua and Adeniyi suffered only minor injuries.

Joshua was sitting behind the driver and escaped death by inches, with local first responders describing his survival as a “miracle”.

The Lagos and Ogun state governments on Wednesday announced the discharge of Anthony Joshua from Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, after doctors confirmed he was clinically fit to continue his recuperation from home.

According to a joint statement signed by Mr Kayode Akinmade, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, and Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, Joshua and his mother visited a funeral home in Lagos on Wednesday to pay their final respects to the two late friends.

The bodies were flown out of Lagos on a Turkish Airlines cargo flight that landed in Istanbul early on New Year’s Day and are expected to fly on to London.

Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State expressed deep appreciation to members of the public for the overwhelming concern, prayers and show of love following the sad incident.

They also conveyed their gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for what they described as his fatherly support throughout the period and commended the doctors and medical personnel at Lagoon Hospital for their professionalism.

The two state governments once again commiserated with the families of the deceased, describing the incident as painful and deeply unfortunate.

According to the Daily Mail, the driver of the illegally parked truck has now disappeared, and there is an active police manhunt for him.

Joshua and the two men had arrived in Nigeria on Monday on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London. A baggage handler at arrivals, called Solomon, told reporters, “They were all smiling and laughing and joking as they walked through. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the news a few hours later that he had been involved in a fatal accident.”

Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Bright Osayi-Samuel have sent messages of support to Joshua following the crash.

By Peter Akinbo, Punch

Related story: Anthony Joshua injured in Nigeria car crash, with two others dead

Anthony Joshua injured in Nigeria car crash, with two others dead

British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has been injured in a car crash in Nigeria, which killed two members of his team.

The former world champion was a passenger in a Lexus SUV that collided with a stationary truck on a major expressway in Ogun State, near Lagos.

The two men who died were Joshua's close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif "Latz" Ayodele, the boxer's promoter Matchroom Boxing said in a statement.

It added that Joshua was in a stable condition in hospital, where he was taken for "checks and treatment" and will remain for observation.

Police Commander Babatunde Akinbiyi of Nigeria's Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) said early investigations showed the Lexus had been travelling along the highway from Lagos to Sagamu when it "experienced a tyre burst due to excessive speed" and then "lost control".

Mr Akinbiyi said Joshua and the driver were rescued from the wreckage and taken to a hospital in Sagamu for medical treatment.

The two other passengers - Mr Ghami and Mr Ayodele - were pronounced dead at the scene, Mr Akinbiyi added.

In a statement Matchroom said: "Our deepest condolences and prayers are with the families and friends of all those affected - and we ask that their privacy is respected at this incredibly difficult time."

The group's chair, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, paid tribute to the "two great men" who were killed in the crash. "Rest in eternal peace Sina and Latz. My thoughts and deepest prayers are with everyone," he said.

Boxing expert Steve Bunce described Mr Ghami and Mr Ayodele as "two of Joshua's closest friends" and as "massive parts of the Anthony Joshua machine".

"They've been with him, if not from the start, at least very early on. Latz is AJ's personal trainer and Sina is his strength and conditioning man. They are with him all the time," Bunce told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Hours before the crash, Joshua posted a video to Instagram of himself and Mr Ayodele playing table tennis. Mr Ghami had recently posted on social media from Lagos.

A joint statement from the Ogun and Lagos state governments said Joshua was stable and conscious, and had been in contact with his family.

They said earlier that Joshua had "narrowly escaped death" in the crash, and there will be a "comprehensive investigation" into what happened.

Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said he had spoken to the 36-year-old boxer personally to convey his condolences and wish him a "full and speedy recovery".

"AJ assured me he is receiving the best possible care," he said in a post on X.

The crash took place on the busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway at around 12:00 local time (11:00 GMT) on Monday.

Pictures shared by Nigeria's Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) showed a wrecked car at the site of the crash, with a crowd of onlookers gathered around.

Local officials said Joshua and another man - the vehicle's driver - were rescued by the boxer's security team.

Ogun and Lagos state governments said Joshua and another passenger were "immediately evacuated to a specialised medical facility in Lagos".

The Lagos-Ibadan expressway is known as one of Nigeria's deadliest roads, with particularly heavy traffic at this time of year as many Nigerians living abroad visit for the festive period.

Joshua, who was born in Watford, has family roots in Sagamu - a town in Ogun State, south-west Nigeria, near the crash site.

He had been spending time in the country following his recent victory over American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on 19 December.

Paul posted on X after the crash: "Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today's unfortunate accident."

A relative of Joshua's in Nigeria, who asked not to be named, told the BBC that news of the crash came as a "shock" to the family.

They said they were hoping for his "speedy recovery" and offered prayers for those who died in the crash.

The family member confirmed that Joshua was travelling from Lagos to Ogun State when the accident happened. His family had been expecting him to join them in Sagamu for New Year celebrations.

The boxer's family is well known in the town and traces its ancestry there across several generations.

There are plans to build a new indoor boxing venue named after Joshua in Ogun, where the boxer is a sports ambassador.

Tributes have poured in for the two members of Joshua's team who were killed in the crash.

Ghami had been Joshua's full-time strength and conditioning coach for more than 10 years, helping him prepare for major clashes of his career including this month's defeat of Jake Paul.

He also co-founded the London-based gym Evolve. The gym said it will close on 30 December "as we mourn the loss of our beloved owner".

By Makuochi Okafor and Ian Aikman, BBC

First Olympic Medalist of Nigeria, Nojim Maiyegun, Dies At 83

Nojim Maiyegun, a former Nigerian boxer, has died at 83.

The death of the legendary boxer was confirmed on Monday in a Facebook post by Rudolfine F Soultan, a confidante.

“My Jimmy died. I can’t say more about this right now because it’s just horrible. The day after tomorrow, we would have been together for 17 years,” the post reads.

A source close to the family of the deceased also told TheCable that Maiyegun breathed his last on Monday morning at his base in Vienna, Austria.

Maiyegun, who became visually impaired a few years ago, was reportedly battling an unnamed illness for a couple of months.

He was the first Nigerian to win an Olympic medal.

Maiyegun was 23 when he won a bronze medal in the light-heavyweight boxing category at Tokyo 1964.

In the second round of the competition, he defeated Great Britain’s William Robinson in just one minute and 59 seconds — a remarkable feat in amateur boxing.

He defeated Tom Bogs of Denmark in the quarter-final before losing to France’s Joseph Gonzalez in the semi-final.

Maiyegun and Poland’s Józef Grzesiak settled for the bronze.

Two years later, in 1966, he won another bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica.

Maiyegun left Nigeria in 1971 to begin a professional boxing career.

He fought 16 times and won 12 — 10 of them by knockouts.

By Ololade, Information Nigeria

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Anthony Joshua shows his class by sending necessities to Nigeria and pays tribute to NHS heroes fighting coronavirus

 ANTHONY JOSHUA has yet again shown his class by sending much-needed basics to Nigeria - while also paying tribute to the NHS heroes fighting coronavirus.

The world heavyweight boxing champion, 30, has sent boxes of much-needed supplies to Nigeria having been prevented from visiting in person, as planned, due to coronavirus.Joshua has also teamed-up with Under Armour to send 2,000 products to NHS workers at Watford General Hospital

And he has also sent Under Armour clothing to Watford General, where he was born, to help hospital workers through this tough time.

In a clip posted on social media, Joshua could be heard narrating over a video of people in Nigeria collecting their "free gift" packages from the British boxing star.

Joshua said: "It's 2019 and I'm visiting Nigeria. I was planning on teaming up with some of the local community leaders to contribute to some of their events.

"But due to the global pandemic these plans have come to a halt.

"During this crisis, we thought it would be best to put some basic necessities together for some of the people who may need it.

"So here's to Nigeria. One love, people. And I'll see you soon."

In the clip, the locals piled praise on Joshua - who recently revealed how his time in Nigeria changed him for the better - for his selfless deed.

WAT A MAN

And Joshua has also revealed he has teamed up with sporting goods giants Under Armour to send 2,000 of their products to Watford General, the hospital in which he was born.

Items include HeatGear T-shirts which feel cool, dry and light, as well as its Recovery sleepwear and tracksuits to help make staff feel more comfortable after working long shifts.

In a video on Instagram, Joshua said: "I was born in Watford General and those that know me, know that Watford will forever run through my veins.

"I saw that Under Armour have been doing some great things globally supporting key workers during this pandemic.

"So I teamed up with Under Armour to support something near and dear to my heart.

By Dave Fraser

The Sun

Anthony Joshua considering Nigeria as future bout venue

Anthony Joshua has expressed his desire to defend his heavyweight titles in Nigeria after reclaiming his world champion status in his rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr.

Since his victory over Ruiz, offers have flooded in for the Briton to stage future fights in numerous locations across the globe. Africa is amongst those to show interest in hosting Joshua, and the 30-year-old is keen to connect with his roots in Nigeria.

A fight in his parents’ home country would be the first world championship heavyweight fight outside of South Africa since Muhammad Ali and George Foreman participated in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ in Zaire.

“People were telling me I should go back [to Nigeria] for ages,” Joshua told reporters. “It was crazy because they don’t have 24-hour electricity but they still know me and support me.”

AJ told Pulse FM earlier in the year that he is “massively into Nigerian culture” which showed as he opted for the song ‘Water Get No Enemy’ by Nigerian legend Fela Kuti during his ring-walk on Saturday.

The comments should come with a pinch of salt, however. A day after his latest win Joshua was singing the praises of London and its fanbase, with Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium mooted as a potential destination.

A return to London will likely be the next location for a match, but a visit to Nigeria to defend his titles is a firm ambition for Joshua.

“I went to the ghettos of the ghettos where it’s not all about egos and beef, it’s about people who are hungry to survive,” he reflected on his visit across the Mediterranean. “It was one of the best things I’ve done. Africa’s rooting for me for sure, so I would definitely love to fight out there.”

Joshua has two upcoming boxing commitments for 2020 – an International Boxing Federation (IBF) clash against Kubrat Pulev and a later World Boxing Organisation (WBO) fight which is likely to be against Oleksandr Usyk.

After working hard to snatch his titles back from Mexican underdog Ruiz, Joshua will need to defend his status from the Bulgarian and Ukrainian heavyweights.

“The plan is to maintain the belts, so we will have to have conversations this week with the IBF and the WBO to see who goes first,” AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn told The Telegraph.

“It’s our understanding that the IBF mandatory comes first, which is Pulev, so realistically it is Pulev and then Usyk in that order, with Dereck Chisora fighting Usyk in February or March and then AJ fighting the winner.”

Joshua added: “I can’t get too caught up in the moment and have to stay focused on the task at hand, which is not staying undefeated any more, but staying champion for as long as possible.”

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