What should have been a quiet holiday homecoming has turned into a devastating tragedy for Anthony Joshua, raising profound questions about his boxing future.

Anthony Joshua was in Nigeria to spend the New Year period with family when disaster struck.

Sagamu, a town with personal significance to the boxer, lies close to Ikenne, where Anthony Joshua attended boarding school.

For him, the area had represented connection, roots and peace. It has now become the backdrop to one of the darkest moments of his life.

The British-Nigerian two-time unified world heavyweight champion was involved in a fatal road accident along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, near Sagamu in Ogun State.

The Lexus SUV conveying Anthony Joshua and members of his four-man team collided with a stationary truck on the notoriously dangerous highway, claiming the lives of two of his closest associates.

Latif “Latz” Ayodele and Sina “Evolve” Ghami, both aged 36, died at the scene. Anthony Joshua sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital, where he remains in a stable condition under observation.

A devastating loss beyond boxing

The emotional weight of the tragedy is immeasurable. Ghami was not just a team member but Joshua’s long-time strength and conditioning coach, a constant presence throughout fight camps and most recently by his side in Miami after Joshua’s high-profile victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

Ayodele, known affectionately as “Healthy Mindset,” was Joshua’s personal trainer, deeply involved in his conditioning and preparation for major bouts.

“With profound sadness, it has been confirmed that two close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, have tragically passed away,” Matchroom Boxing, Joshua’s promoters, confirmed the deaths in a statement.

“Anthony sustained injuries in the accident and was taken to the hospital for checks and treatment. He is in a stable condition and will remain under observation.”

From celebration to catastrophe

The timing makes the tragedy even more disturbing. Joshua had only just returned to the ring after more than a year away, defeating Jake Paul in Miami in a bout that reportedly earned him around £70 million.

The win had reignited plans for his career, with discussions ongoing about a potential fight in Saudi Arabia in February and a long-mooted showdown with Tyson Fury later in 2026.

Tributes pour in

Tributes have flooded social media for both Ghami and Ayodele. Ayodele, who operated largely from Dubai, had worked with numerous high-profile athletes and celebrities, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimović and David Beckham. Former New Zealand rugby star Sonny Bill Williams was among those who paid tribute.

For now, boxing feels secondary

Joshua has lost two friends first and foremost—men he trusted, worked with daily and shared victories with. The psychological impact of such a loss, particularly following a violent accident, is impossible to quantify.

The question hanging over his career

At 36, Joshua stands at a crossroads even without tragedy. He has already achieved world titles, global fame and extraordinary wealth. Now, after surviving a crash that claimed the lives of two people closest to him, the question is no longer just about form, fitness or opponents.

For now, the priority must be Joshua’s health and support for the families of Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Any discussion about future bouts feels premature.

Yet the longer-term question remains unavoidable: after such a terrible ordeal, can Anthony Joshua ever be expected to step back into a professional boxing ring—or has the curtain quietly fallen on one of heavyweight boxing’s most defining careers? (BusinessDay)

•Kevin ‘Lateef’ Ayodele (right) and Sina Ghami (left), who both died in the crash, are pictured alongside Anthony Joshua. Photograph: Instagram