Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is seriously considering retirement from boxing, according to his uncle, Adedamola Joshua.
The 36-year-old boxer, who survived a terrible vehicle disaster in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends and teammates, informed his family of his decision in secret following last week’s tragedy.
“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 press during a visit to the family home in Sagamu on Monday morning.
“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, also. Now that he has said that he’s leaving while the ovation is highest, we are happy.”
Speaking on if Joshua had communicated this decision to the family.
“Yes,” the uncle confirmed.
Joshua has also committed to providing lifelong support to the families of his two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, who died in the car accident near Lagos last Monday.
Joshua broke his public silence on Sunday by posting photos with the mourning relatives on Instagram. His image was captioned “My Brother’s Keeper” and included two heart emojis as well as a military helmet symbol denoting protection. The term refers to a biblical scripture from Genesis 4:9 that expresses a moral imperative to look after others.
A source in Joshua’s camp told The Sun that “AJ is fiercely loyal to his friends and their families and will be there for them for the rest of their lives.” He’s had the same team surrounding him his entire career, which included Sina and Latz.
Ghami was Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, and Ayodele was his personal trainer; therefore, both men were essential to his boxing camp.
The couple had traveled to Nigeria with Joshua to see his family when tragedy struck. Their Lexus SUV crashed with a stalled truck on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Both Ghami and Ayodele were slain instantly on the scene.
Joshua had to be removed from the debris by rescue workers. The fighter was brought to the hospital but escaped with minor injuries.
Joshua attended an emotional memorial service at the London Central Mosque on Sunday, along with other mourners.
The two coffins were placed side by side as the Janaza, or Islamic funeral prayer, was recited.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the mosque before the coffins were transported to a local cremation for the funeral service. A wake was held in the afternoon.
Adeniji Taiwo, one of Sagamu’s indigenous people, expressed relief that Joshua survived the crash while lamenting the loss of his two buddies.
“We thank God we didn’t lose our son, and for those who lost their children, God will help us to comfort them,” Taiwo said.
“I believe the fear will be there for him not to come back home, but I will advise him to come back home because he can’t leave his father’s place. This is his home.
“We feel bad that happened to our son, who was already almost home when he had the accident, but we thank God, and we pray nothing like that will happen to him again. There is nothing that can’t happen anywhere. God will continue to be with him and all of us; no one in Remo wishes him evil, he is our glory.”
Joshua’s uncle also spoke on concerns about the boxer’s relationship with Nigeria following the tragedy.
“There are a lot of things we have heard, but this is a Christian family, and everything we take with faith,” he said.
“Once something like that happens, emotionally, you can say anything, but as time goes on, you know this is (always) your root.”
On Friday, the Ogun State Police Command reported that Adeniyi Kayode, who was driving the automobile with Joshua as a passenger, was charged over the accident at the Sagamu Magistrate Court.
He was accused of causing death by risky driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care, and driving without a valid driver’s license. The case has been deferred until January 20.
Kayode’s lawyer told the Daily Mail, “My client has pleaded not guilty, and what happened was an accident. I haven’t had a full chance to speak with him yet, but I know he is saying the brakes did not work.
“I also understand that the journey started in Lagos and that initially Anthony had gotten into the front seat, but the driver asked him to swap seats.
“He did this because Anthony is a big fellow, and he couldn’t see the wing mirror properly, so he asked him to move, and he sat behind the driver. From what I understand, Latif was in front and then changed seats with Anthony.”
