Nigerian-British boxing champion Anthony Joshua has spoken publicly about the deaths of two of his friends who were killed in a car crash during a conversation with UFC fighter Kamaru Usman.
The discussion was shared in a YouTube video posted by Usman and took place while Joshua was recovering from injuries sustained in the accident, ahead of a mixed martial arts event held in Lagos on December 30.
Joshua survived a road accident that occurred on December 29 along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. The crash claimed the lives of his friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Joshua was reportedly pulled from the wreckage and rushed to a hospital, where he received treatment.
Speaking in the video, the former heavyweight champion said the reality of the loss had yet to fully sink in.
When Usman asked where the victims were seated in the vehicle, Joshua replied, “One was in the front and one was behind him, on the right side. They both passed away. It still hasn’t sunk in. It still hasn’t hit me yet.”
Reacting, Usman said, “I’m sorry for that, man. You scared the world.”
Joshua responded, “Life is short, man. Life is short. And now look, I get to speak with you for the first time.”
Usman added, “We thank God.”
Joshua also reflected on the public response to the incident, noting that it revealed how many people were paying attention to him.
After being discharged from the hospital, Joshua returned to the United Kingdom. On Sunday, he shared a photo on social media showing himself with the families of the deceased, captioning it, “My Brother’s Keeper.”
