Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has considered retired from professional boxing following a tragic car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close allies.
According to The Punch, Joshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, revealed that the 36-year-old boxer privately informed his family of the decision after the crash, which occurred last week near Lagos.
“The major thing there is that he has retired from boxing. That is one thing that makes us glad because each time he’s fighting in the ring, we are always carried away emotionally,” Adedamola told the newspaper on Monday.
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He added that watching Joshua fight had become increasingly distressing for the family. “Each time he’s knocked down, it is just like the heart is coming out of our chest. All these emotional feelings whenever he’s fighting, it’s too much trauma for us,” he said, confirming that Joshua had communicated his intentions directly to relatives.
The accident claimed the lives of Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, both long-time members of Joshua’s boxing camp. Ghami served as his strength and conditioning coach, while Ayodele was his personal trainer.
The pair were travelling with Joshua in a Lexus SUV when it collided with a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Joshua was rescued and treated for minor injuries at a nearby hospital, while Ghami and Ayodele were pronounced dead at the scene.
