Anthony Joshua Set to Retire from Boxing After Tragic Crash, Family Reveals

A member of Anthony Joshua’s family has claimed that the former heavyweight world champion is set to retire from professional boxing, following a tragic road accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close associates.

Joshua, 36, was involved in a fatal crash last Monday on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Makun, when his vehicle reportedly collided with a stationary truck. While the British-Nigerian boxing star escaped with only minor injuries, two members of his inner circle — Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele — lost their lives at the scene.

The remains of the deceased were laid to rest at a mosque in London on Sunday, January 4, with Joshua in attendance to pay his final respects.
The tragic incident came barely 10 days after Joshua’s most recent fight, in which he knocked out American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.

Since the accident, Joshua has remained silent on his future in the sport, with his promoter Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing also declining further comment beyond an initial statement released on the night of the crash.

However, Joshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, has now disclosed that the former champion has decided to walk away from boxing.

“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 Punch.

“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,” he added.

According to him, the family is relieved that Joshua is choosing to step aside at the peak of his career.

“Now that he has said that he’s leaving while the ovation is highest, we are happy,” Adedamola said.
When asked if Joshua had personally communicated the decision to the family, he responded simply: “Yes.”

As of the time of filing this report, Anthony Joshua is yet to make an official public statement confirming his retirement, leaving fans and the boxing world awaiting clarity on what could mark the end of an era for one of the sport’s biggest global stars.