STATEMENT: CHRIS EUBANK JR. AND JAKE PAUL REACT TO FATAL ANTHONY JOSHUA ACCIDENT
Tragedy in Lagos as Anthony Joshua survives a fatal crash that killed coach Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Get the full report here.
Two of Anthony Joshua's buddies and team members died in that car crash in Nigeria where the British boxer was hurt.
Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele passed away when their car, with Joshua and another person inside, crashed into a parked truck near Lagos.
According to the Ogun State government, Joshua is doing okay and didn't need immediate medical help.
Matchroom, Joshua's promoters, said they were really sorry and thinking of the families and friends of Ghami and Ayodele.
The statement said it was really sad news that Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, two close friends and team members, had died.
Matchroom Boxing and 258 BXG said that Anthony got hurt in the accident and went to the hospital to get checked out. He's doing fine and will stay there for a bit to be watched over.
They also said they were sending their deepest sympathies and prayers to everyone affected and asked that people respect their privacy during this tough time.
Fellow boxer Chris Eubank Jr. also paid his respects to Ghami and Ayodele, who was also called 'Latz,' saying they were genuinely good guys.
The British middleweight said, Thank goodness our heavyweight champ survived that awful car crash. Pray for Latz & Sina and their families. I knew them both; they were good people. Rest in peace, guys.
Ghami was Joshua's full-time rehab coach and had worked with him for over 10 years.
He helped the former champ get ready for some big fights, like the one against Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 and the recent win over Jake Paul.
Ghami also worked with Le'Veon Bell from the Pittsburgh Steelers and Draymond Green from the Golden State Warriors.
Just before the crash, Joshua posted a video on Instagram of him playing ping pong with his longtime friend Ayodele, who was a personal trainer.
Joshua was in Nigeria after beating Jake Paul in Miami earlier this month.
Paul wrote on X that life is more important than boxing and that he was praying for those who died, AJ, and anyone else affected by the accident.
Sonny Bill Williams, a former New Zealand rugby star, posted photos with Joshua and Latif, saying, Rest easy, brother Abdul Latif. I hope things are easy for your family.
British bantamweight Shannon Courtenay said, RIP Sina and Latz, two good guys. Last week we were all having fun in Miami, and now you're gone. Life's too short. I hope their families are okay during this terrible time.
Video from the scene showed Joshua being helped out of a wrecked car.
Nigeria's Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said that five men were involved in the crash.
They added that Joshua and the driver were saved by Joshua's security team.
The crash involved a black Lexus and a parked red truck on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway around noon on Monday.
The FRSC thinks the Lexus was going too fast and lost control while trying to pass, crashing into the truck.
Joshua had just come back to boxing after a year off, beating Jake Paul in what was a huge payday. He was in Nigeria to spend New Year's with family when this happened.
The plan was for Joshua to box again in Saudi Arabia in February before maybe fighting Tyson Fury in 2026. But right now, that doesn't seem important.
Joshua has lost two close friends, including his longtime coach Ghami. It's hard to say how much this will affect him. Ghami was with him during fight week in Miami and joined him in the ring after he beat Paul.
Whatever he does next in his career doesn't really matter right now. The boxing world is hoping that Joshua gets through this okay.
NONITO DONAIRE FINALIZING JASON MOLONEY FIGHT FOR EUBANK JR UNDERCARD IN AUSTRALIA
Chris Eubank Jr. targets a career revival in Australia against Michael Zerafa, with Nonito Donaire set for a legendary co-feature.
Nonito Donaire is close to signing a deal to fight Jason Moloney, and there’s a good chance this matchup ends up on Chris Eubank Jr’s undercard.
Eubank Jr is expected to face Michael Zerafa in his first bout since losing to Conor Benn in their rematch. After overcoming some health problems, Eubank Jr is looking to get back in the ring, and talks are pointing toward an event in Australia later this year. Zerafa says negotiations are basically done.
Now, at 43, Donaire is hinting that the fight card is almost finalised. He told Ring Magazine, “Yeah, there’s a fight coming up between Chris Eubank Jr and Michael Zerafa. Being able to fight Jason Moloney on the same card is going to be great. We’ve been trying to make this fight for years, and now we’re having serious talks. There’s nowhere for him to hide. I’m going to his turf, and it’s going to be a really interesting fight. This is the shot, and it’ll be right under a great main event with Zerafa, who I’ll help train for Eubank Jr. Nobody’s taking this fight away from me. That’s what’s going on.”
Donaire lost his last fight when Riku Masuda stopped him in March, but he still believes he’s got something left to prove, even if he’s past his physical peak.
As for Eubank Jr, his future carries some big question marks. He didn’t look like himself in the rematch with Benn, and everyone saw his struggles in the ring. Still, with his drawing power, he’s convinced there are more big fights ahead. Beating Zerafa in Australia could give him a new audience and keep his name relevant. It may even help set up a run at a 168-pound world title before he hangs up the gloves.
And who knows if he beats Christian Mbilli for the WBC title in September, a Canelo Alvarez match could be back on the table.
FRANK WARREN WARNS JOSHUA VS FURY "IS TOAST" IF ANTHONY JOSHUA LOSES NEXT
Frank Warren has warned that the Joshua vs Fury fight will be cancelled if Anthony Joshua loses his next bout in Riyadh.
Frank Warren isn’t mincing words when it comes to Anthony Joshua’s comeback. The Queensberry boss put out a pretty blunt warning while explaining why the long-awaited Joshua vs Fury showdown might crash and burn despite both fighters finally signing on for a late-2026 clash.
Tensions have already been running high. After Tyson Fury’s unanimous win over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham in April, he didn’t waste time calling out Joshua. AJ shot right back, calling Fury a "clout chaser" and claiming, “I’m the boss; you work for me.” It’s classic heavyweight drama, and with promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren confirming the deal, fans are buzzing. It feels huge, like the old Bruno vs Lennox Lewis showdown in the ‘90s.
But there’s a catch. Everything could unravel if Joshua slips up in his next fight. He’s set to face off against Kristian Prenga, a guy barely anyone outside of Albania has heard of, in Riyadh. Warren says if Joshua loses, the massive Fury bout is toast, simple as that.
"If he loses to this guy, it kills the fight," Warren told the BBC, hinting the big bout could land as soon as late October. Warren also mentioned Fury might not want to sit around waiting and could squeeze in another fight first. “Tyson wants to keep busy,” Warren said. “For him, being in the gym isn’t just about staying in shape; it’s about his mental health too. He needs something to focus on a fight in the books. Right now, we don’t have that.”
If Fury does get past Joshua, what’s next? Warren says Fury, who’s now 37, is already thinking about unfinished business with Oleksandr Usyk. “Tyson has made it very plain he’d like to fight Usyk again. That could be the next step.”
Usyk is the only man to have beaten Fury in his nearly twenty-year career. He also handed Joshua two of his four losses, with Joshua’s other defeats coming from Daniel Dubois and Andy Ruiz Jr. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
