Heavyweight Boxing Champ Anthony Joshua Speaks Out On Car Crash That Killed Two of His Friends

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by Matthew MendivesJanuary 15, 2026, 1:17 am >

Heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has broken his silence on the car crash that killed two of his friends.

The crash happened on December 29, 2025, in Nigeria. The group crashed into a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The car, a Lexus SUV, was being driven by Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode. Kayode was charged with dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care, and driving without a valid driver’s license.

It’s unclear why Kayode was driving the vehicle. Personal drivers must undergo extensive background checks, including verifying that they have a valid license and a clean record.

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Joshua’s two friends were Sina Ghami and Kevin “Latif” Ayodele. Ayodele and Joshua had been friends since they were ten. Joshua and Ayodele both met Ghami in their teenage years.

Ayodele had several stints with non-league football teams in the United Kingdom. After his playing career, he created a business, Healthy Mindset. He built an app that helped people train physically and improve their mental health. He was a frequent donor to the SPOT project, which built schools and orphanages in Gambia, a country in West Africa. He also helped with Joshua’s training.

Memorial services were held for Ayodele and Ghami. Joshua was in attendance, but had stayed silent until recently. On January 8, Joshua posted on Instagram to break his silence on the matter.

“I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men,” Joshua said.

“100% it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents.” Joshua said, “I have a strong mind, and I believe God knows their hearts. May God have mercy on my brothers.”