Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is considering retirement from professional boxing following a fatal road accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close friends and team members.
Joshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, disclosed the development, saying the 36-year-old boxer privately communicated his decision to family members after the crash, which occurred last week.
“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 PUNCH during a visit to the family home in Sagamu on Monday. When asked if Joshua had clearly informed the family of his decision, he replied, “Yes.”
The accident resulted in the deaths of Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, both close associates of the boxer. Family sources said Joshua has pledged to provide lifelong support to the families of the deceased.
Joshua attended the funeral service for the two men at the London Central Mosque on Sunday, where the Janaza (Islamic funeral prayer) was held. The coffins were placed side by side as hundreds of mourners gathered. The bodies were later taken to a nearby crematorium, with a wake held later in the day.
Reacting to the incident, a Sagamu indigene, Adeniji Taiwo, expressed gratitude that Joshua survived the crash while mourning the victims. He urged the boxer not to stay away from home out of fear, describing Sagamu as his roots and home.
The accident occurred on Monday, December 29, 2025, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State. The Ogun State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi.
According to the police, the crash happened at about 11:00 a.m. in Makun, near the Sagamu Interchange on the Ibadan-bound axis, involving a Lexus SUV conveying Joshua and others. The boxer, who was seated in the rear of the vehicle, sustained minor injuries and received medical attention, while two other passengers died at the scene.
Police said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident are ongoing. Joshua’s driver has since been charged to court over alleged reckless driving but denied wrongdoing, attributing the crash to brake failure.
