Anthony Joshua’s uncle has stated that the former world champion has indicated to his family his intention to retire following a tragic car accident that resulted in the deaths of two close friends.
The ex-two-time heavyweight world champion was a passenger in a Lexus SUV involved in a collision with a stationary truck on a major expressway near Lagos, Nigeria. The crash claimed the lives of Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, whose funerals were held at a mosque in London on Sunday.
Prior to attending the funerals, ‘AJ’ shared images on Instagram sitting with his mother and three other women, one of whom held a photo of Ghami. The post was captioned ‘My Brothers Keeper.’
In the aftermath of the accident, Joshua is reportedly contemplating retirement, with sources indicating he has communicated his decision to his family. Adedamola Joshua expressed relief over the retirement, citing the emotional toll of watching Joshua fight in the ring.
While reports from Nigeria suggest Joshua has retired, Mirror Fighting understands that he has yet to finalize a decision on his future.
The driver of the vehicle, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, has been charged over the crash, facing allegations of causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, and other offenses. Joshua, who was a passenger in the car, was discharged from the hospital on New Year’s Eve after receiving treatment.
Stunning reports surfaced that Joshua narrowly escaped a more severe fate by switching seats in the vehicle before the crash. Despite recent plans for a future fight with Tyson Fury, uncertainties loom over Joshua’s boxing career following the tragic incident.
Frank Warren, a boxing promoter, acknowledged the emotional impact of the accident on Joshua, emphasizing that boxing is likely the least of his concerns at this time. The 36-year-old boxing star’s career has been marked by significant victories and defeats, including a recent knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in his quest for a third world title.