Anthony Joshua has shared an emotional new statement about the deaths of his two closest friends in the December car crash in Nigeria, revealing he “didn’t even realise how special they are.”
The former two-time unified heavyweight champion posted a heartfelt tribute on X featuring a memorial graphic of Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif “Latz” Ayodele with angel wings. In the emotional caption, Joshua opened up about processing his grief and the profound impact his friends had on his life.
“Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers. I didn’t even realise how special they are,” Joshua wrote. “I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men.”
Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers. I didn’t even realise how special they are. I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. 100% it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher… pic.twitter.com/qIdvq9O4sO
The post marks Joshua’s second public statement since the tragic crash that occurred on December 29 on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The Lexus SUV they were traveling in struck a stationary truck, according to CNN. Joshua, who was a rear passenger, sustained minor injuries and was released from the hospital on December 31.
Joshua acknowledged the weight of the loss while showing concern for the grieving families. “100% it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents ❤️ I have a strong mind, and I believe God knows their hearts. May God have mercy on my brothers 🙏,” he continued.
Ghami served as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach for over 10 years, while Ayodele was his personal trainer and lifelong friend. Joshua attended their funerals on January 5 at the London Central Mosque after returning to the UK from Nigeria. The trip to Nigeria came just 10 days after Joshua’s knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.
Joshua’s first public statement came on January 5 when he posted photos with grieving family members and captioned it simply: “My Brothers Keeper ❤️🪖❤️.”
The driver of the vehicle, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, has been charged with dangerous driving causing death, reckless driving, and driving without a valid license, CNN reported. The case has been adjourned until January 20.\
Conor McGregor has reignited his rivalry with Floyd Mayweather, challenging the undefeated boxing legend to an MMA fight at the upcoming UFC White House event.
The former two-division UFC champion took to social media to call out Mayweather, sharing a throwback video from their 2017 press tour.
“Floyd Mayweather, when you are ready for that promised MMA bout, I am here,” McGregor wrote. “The White House is nice in the summer, I heard. Just kidding Mike! Although I could fight both the same night. Floyd MMA? EASY. 10 seconds.”
The callout references Mayweather’s comments during their 2017 boxing match buildup, when he boasted “I’ll whoop your ass in the Octagon.” That bout generated 4.3 million PPV buys and over $600 million in revenue, making it the second highest-grossing fight in combat sports history.
McGregor hasn’t competed since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. His 18-month anti-doping suspension for missed drug tests expires on March 20, 2026 — clearing him for the confirmed UFC White House event on June 14.
However, Mayweather, 48, appears to have other plans. He’s already committed to an exhibition bout against Mike Tyson scheduled for March 2026 in Africa. The boxing legend has never competed in professional MMA.
It will go down as one of the most bizarre and highly-panned fights in modern boxing, but the result many people had been hoping for finally came — Jake Paul was knocked out in his boxing match with Anthony Joshua.
The fight took place at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on December 19.
Paul stayed to the outside as the fight started, bouncing around and looking to make Joshua chase him. This made Joshua miss during the first round, with Paul coming in with quick shots when possible — though Joshua landed a notable right hand in the closing stages.
Joshua looked to bring the pressure to Paul in the second round, trying to trap the still-bouncing Paul. While Paul still had some evading and clinched well, Joshua made Paul have to dodge shots that could have rocked him.
The third round had the same energy, with so few shots landing from both men through three. Paul landed a combination and a jab early in the fourth before being warned for what appeared to be him going for a takedown on Joshua. In fact, Paul went for three takedowns during the fourth round, with Joshua somehow being warned after one of them.
After another inexplicable takedown attempt from Paul, Joshua knocked Paul twice down during the round, with an exhausted Paul barely surviving the round.
Joshua knocked him down again in the first minute of the sixth. Another combination not long after sent Paul to the canvas one more time, with this being the one to bring the fight-ending ten-count.
Respect to Jake Paul for getting in there with Anthony. We all knew what was gonna happen he took some licks. Interesting to see what’s next for both, would love to see fury vs Joshua next
This was Joshua’s first fight since getting knocked out by Daniel Dubois in their September 2024 IBF heavyweight title fight. He and promoter Eddie Hearn hope this victory will lead to a showdown with fellow former unified heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in 2026.
This loss marks the first time Paul has been stopped in his boxing career and snaps a six-fight win streak. Paul had most recently fought this past June, defeating Julio Caesar Chavez Jr.
Though his best days are behind him, Anderson Silva has added another finish to his name, defeating Tyron Woodley in round two of their six-round matchup in the boxing ring.
The fight served as an undercard bout in the lead-up to Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua in Miami on December 19.
Silva looked for Woodley to come in and aim for a big counter, which resulted in a one-sided start to the fight in Woodley’s favor.
However, Silva found his mark in the second round. The 50-year-old cornered Woodley before delivering a four-punch combination that dropped him to the mat. Woodley made his way to his feet, though he appeared to still be out of it.
A lack of immediate engagement to get back into the fight was enough for Woodley’s corner to see, causing a stoppage halfway through round two.
Anderson Silva Stops Tyron Woodley
He did the move!!! 😂 #AndersonSilva the GOAT. He used to do this move in the gym, and I stole it from him and landed it in a UFC fight once. Now at 50 he does it again. Wow!!! #PaulJoshua
After competing in two boxing matchups early in his combat career, Silva defeated Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. and Tito Ortiz in 2021 before a loss to Jake Paul in 2022. Silva and Chael Sonnen fought to a draw in an exhibition boxing bout last year.
After Woodley parted ways with the UFC after UFC 260 in 2021, he competed against Paul twice that year. He lost one fight by a controversial decision before getting knocked out by Paul at the end of the year.
Jake Paul returns to the boxing ring to take on perhaps his toughest competition to date, as he takes on former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. And MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!
Paul vs. Joshua headlines in the main event of a card, entitled “Judgment Day,” at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
Since 2020, Paul has consistently entered the boxing ring, intending to go from a YouTuber boxer to a legitimate boxer facing legit names in combat sports. He has been in the ring against the likes of Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, and Mike Tyson; however, most, if not all, of those fights have been subjected to their own forms of criticism.
Paul was most recently in action earlier this year, defeating Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. in a widely panned bout.
Joshua, meanwhile, has not been seen in the ring since getting knocked out by Daniel Dubois in their IBF heavyweight title fight in September 2024. That snapped a five-fight win streak for Joshua he had been on since dropping his heavyweight titles of Oleksandr Usyk and losing the rematch.
The undercard will feature several women’s boxing world championships on the line, as well as a cruiserweight matchup between former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley.
Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua Live Results & Highlights
Heavyweight Main Event: Anthony Joshua def. Jake Paul via KO (R6, 1:31)
WBA/IBF/WBO Female Super Featherweight Championship: Alycia Baumgardner def. Leila Beaudoin via unanimous decision (117-110 x2, 118-109)
Cruiserweight: Anderson Silva def. Tyron Woodley via TKO (R2, 1:30)
Super Featherweight: Jahmal Harvey def. Kevin Cervantes via unanimous decision (60-53 x3)
Undisputed Female Bantamweight Championship: Cherneka Johnson def. Amanda Galle via unanimous decision (99-91, 98-92, 97-93)
