Anthony Joshua shared a video of him laughing and smiling with Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele just hours before his close friend was killed in a car crash in Nigeria.
The former heavyweight champion, 36, is in a stable condition and did not require any emergency medical help after the vehicle he and three other passengers were travelling in collided with a stationary truck in Lagos on Monday.
Two other passengers were killed with it confirmed this evening they were Joshua’s close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Ayodele.
Joshua’s promoters Matchroom Boxing confirmed their identities in a statement with chairman Eddie Hearn writing: ‘Two great men. Rest in eternal peace Sina and Latz. My thoughts and deepest prayers are with everyone.’
Just hours before news of the devastating crash emerged, Joshua shared a video clip on Instagram of he and Latif playing a game of table tennis with the two in good spirits.
Ayodele was a long-time friend of Joshua’s, serving as his personal trainer.
Ghami, the other passenger killed on Monday, worked as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, another who has been part of ‘AJ’s team for a number of years.
Joshua fought in Miami just 10 days ago, knocking out Jake Paul that night.
The YouTuber was among those to pay tribute to Ayodele and Ghami, writing on Twitter: ‘RIP Sina Ghami and Kevin ‘Latif / Latz’ Ayodele.
‘My thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends and AJ.’
Chris Eubank Jr also paid tribute, writing: ‘Thank god our heavyweight champ survived that horrible car crash.
Who were Anthony Joshua's friends Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami?
Throughout his time in boxing, Anthony Joshua has kept a close-knit circle of friends and associates around him, plenty of those working silently behind the scenes during his ascent to the summit of the sport.
Both Ghami and Ayodele were part of that group, considered good friends having worked closely with him for years.
Who is Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele?
‘Latz’ is a long-time friend of Joshua’s and has been part of the AJ team going all the way back to his maiden world title victory over Charles Martin in 2016.
Ayodele was Joshua’s personal trainer and a dedicated Muslim having converted to Isam in 2012.
His Instagram feed is littered with images and videos of him alongside Joshua in the gym and relaxing away from it.
Just hours before the crash, he shared a video on Instagram of him and Joshua smiling and laughing over a game of table tennis.
Latif worked with a number of other prominent sports men and women with New Zealand rugby legend Sonny Bill Williams among those paying tribute.
According to his Facebook profile, he attended St Joan of Arc Catholic School in Rickmansworth, a few miles from Joshua’s hometown of Watford.
Who is Sina Ghami?
Ghami was Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, a role he held for more than a decade.
He was also the co-founder of Evolve Gym in London. Their website states Ghami was a qualified sports and exercise rehabilitator who specialises in musculoskeletal injuries and corrective exercise.
Ghami was at Joshua’s side throughout his career, including his crowing moment against Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in 2017.
His last Instagram story appeared to be a shot of Joshua’s motorcade through Lagos.
‘And pray for the two fallen soldiers Latz & Sina & their families. I knew both… they were genuinely good men. Rest in Peace boys.’
World champion Ellie Scotney wrote: ‘Absolutely heartbreaking to hear the news on the passing of Latz and Sina, Rest in perfect peace.
‘I pray God brings comfort to Anthony, the family and friends in this moment. Life is so precious, and even more so who we spend it with. Lifting you all in my prayers.’
