Anthony Joshua’s uncle has stated that the former world champion has communicated his intention to retire after a tragic car accident that claimed the lives of two close friends. The incident occurred when the Lexus SUV he was a passenger in collided with a stationary truck on a major expressway near Lagos, Nigeria last week. The funerals of Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, the deceased friends, were held at a mosque in London on Sunday.
Before attending the funerals, ‘AJ’ shared photos on Instagram showing him with his mother and three other women, one of whom held a picture of Ghami. In the post, the British boxing star captioned it as ‘My Brothers Keeper’. Following the accident, Joshua is contemplating retirement and has reportedly conveyed this decision to his family in private. His uncle expressed relief at the prospect of him retiring from boxing, citing the emotional toll of watching him fight.
Despite reports from Nigeria indicating Joshua’s retirement, Mirror Fighting has learned that the boxer has not made a final decision on his future. The driver involved in the accident has been charged with various offenses related to the crash, including causing death by dangerous driving. Joshua, who was hospitalized after the incident but has since been discharged, returned to the UK last Friday.
Witnesses described the shock and chaos of the accident, noting that Joshua’s decision to move to the back seat of the vehicle potentially saved his life. The boxer had been in Nigeria following a victorious fight against Jake Paul, which had generated significant earnings for him. Plans for a future fight between Joshua and Fury in 2026 are now uncertain due to the recent tragic events.
Joshua’s boxing career has been marked by notable victories and defeats, including reclaiming titles after setbacks. Despite his resilience in the ring, the recent turn of events following the fatal accident has cast doubt on his future in the sport.