Anthony Joshua injuries ‘more severe’ as boxing career in doubt after crash kills friends

It is claimed Anthony Joshua’s injuries may be worse than first thought as a result of the horror car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his team members

Mourners paying their respects outside Anthony Joshua’s coach’s gym believe it will be “very difficult” for the heavyweight fighter to carry on with his boxing career – after it was claimed his injuries may be worse than first thought.

Floral tributes and a burning candle have been placed outside Evolve Gym in Colindale, north west London, which belonged to Joshua’s close friend Sina Ghami, one of two victims in the horrific car crash in Nigeria on Monday, December 29. Former world champion Joshua, 36, was a rear passenger in a Lexus SUV that smashed into a stationary red commercial Sinotruck on a major expressway in Ogun State, near Lagos.

Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach Ghami, and personal trainer Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, formerly Kevin Ayodele, both 36, were killed in the incident. Joshua was taken to hospital for treatment after he was said to have sustained minor injuries. However, the Daily Mail claims that sources close to the fighter suggest his injuries may be more severe than publicised – and that he may have suffered rib and knee injuries.

Agash Satkunarajah, 26, from Harrow, who knew Ghami, spent several minutes observing the tributes before speaking about the devastating impact to the the Mirror. He said: “It’s quite devastating to see that they went for a holiday and never came home. For AJ I just don’t know where this takes him.

“I think mentally he’s going to be broken. AJ used to come here and prepare for his fights. He was a close friend of Sina’s. Sina was his very good friend, but he was also his strength and conditioning coach so I think it will be very difficult for him to continue when two of the most important people in your boxing career have passed away sadly.”

One floral tribute placed outside the gymnasium bore the heartfelt message: “With deepest sympathy. So saddened for your loss, our thoughts and prayers are with Sina’s family at this such difficult time. RIP Sina. Martin, family and boys from Hendon Tyres.”

Another touching note, decorated with a love heart and positioned beside a flickering candle, simply read: “One of the best humans ever made”.

A formal announcement has been affixed to the shutters, confirming that both the main facility and its sister location in South Ruislip would remain closed for the day. The notice states: “With heavy hearts we announce the temporary closure of Evolve gyms on Tue 30th December as we mourn the loss of our beloved owner: Sina Ghami.”

It continues: “Thank you for being such a supportive community during this difficult time. We will update you on our plans to re-open. Team Evolve”.

A local woman, whose father operates the adjacent Cavendish Banqueting venue, revealed that Joshua had visited the gym alongside Sina mere days before the tragedy.

She reflected: “It’s devastating… so sad. He was very outspoken, very friendly, very jolly. He was chatty all the time. He had a gorgeous dog Bella and took her everywhere. She’s a French Bulldog.”

She continued: “[Anthony Joshua] comes here all the time. He was here two days ago. My dad runs the business upstairs so he kind of phones up and says ‘I need a space’.”

Matchroom Boxing chairman and Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn, paid tribute to the “two great men” who were killed in the crash. He said: “Rest in eternal peace Sina and Latz. My thoughts and deepest prayers are with everyone.”

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”.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “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.”

Joshua, who proudly sports a tattoo of Africa on his right shoulder, frequently visits Sagamu in Ogun State, the hometown of his family. His parents, Yeta Odusanya and Robert Joshua, are both of Nigerian descent.

Joshua, a former two-time heavyweight champion, is thought to have been on a week-long holiday following his knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, 28, in a £70m match on December 19.

Joshua’s six-round knockout of Paul, which resulted in the influencer suffering a broken jaw in two places, in Miami was watched by a staggering 33 million viewers on Netflix, with plans already in place for Joshua’s return to the ring in Riyadh either in February or March.

Following his victory over Paul, Joshua is being primed for a face-off with Tyson Fury, 37, in September. Despite retiring in January after his second consecutive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, 38, Fury, aka the Gypsy King, has been hinting at a potential comeback.

Shocking footage showed the British boxing legend in a state of shock just moments after crawling out from the wreckage of the SUV. Photos released by Nigerian authorities depicted the severely damaged vehicle, with Joshua visibly in pain amidst the shattered glass.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene close to a filling station on the congested Lagos-Ibadan expressway. The 80-mile stretch of road is amongst the nation’s most dangerous routes, having taken 73 lives over the past three months and witnessed 645 fatalities across 27 months.

It is believed Joshua was sitting in the rear seat behind the driver, alongside another passenger, when the collision took place. Four other individuals were travelling in the Lexus at the time, whilst his protection detail followed in a different vehicle.

Police Commander Babatunde Akinbiyi, of Nigeria’s Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), said early investigations show the Lexus was travelling along the highway from Lagos to Sagamu when it “experienced a tyre burst due to excessive speed” and then “lost control”.

Ogun State Police Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo told ESPN: “The accident happened as a result of a burst tire on AJ’s vehicle, which caused the driver to lose control and the vehicle to swerve into the stationary truck parked along the road.”