Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has spoken emotionally about the loss of two close friends who died in a fatal car accident, during a heartfelt conversation with UFC star Kamaru Usman.
The discussion, captured in a YouTube video shared by Usman on Wednesday, took place while Joshua was still recovering from injuries sustained in the crash and ahead of an MMA event held in Lagos on December 30.
Joshua survived the accident, which occurred on December 29 along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and claimed the lives of his friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. The boxer was reportedly pulled from the wreckage and rushed to Duchess International Hospital, where he received treatment for his injuries.
Footage from the video showed Joshua lying in a hospital treatment room, with bandages wrapped around his head and torso, as he reflected on the tragedy. He admitted that the weight of the loss had not yet fully dawned on him.
During the conversation, Usman asked if the deceased had been seated at the front of the black Lexus involved in the crash.
“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,” Joshua said.
Reacting, Usman expressed sympathy, saying, “I’m sorry for that, man. You scared the world, I’ll tell you that right now.”
Reflecting on the fragility of life, Joshua added, “Life is short, man. Life is short. And now look, I get to speak with you for the first time.”
Usman responded, “I know. It’s a funny way of how things move, you know? We thank God.”
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The former UFC welterweight champion also spoke about the public reaction to the incident, noting how the situation revealed the depth of concern for Joshua.
“You scared the world. It’s crazy because, obviously, we deal with the haters and all the bull**** every time, and it sucks that it takes something serious like this to really see how many people have their eyes on you,” Usman said.
Joshua has since been discharged from the hospital and has returned to the United Kingdom.
On Sunday, the boxer broke his silence on social media by sharing a photo of himself with the families of the deceased. He captioned the image, “My Brother’s Keeper.”
The photograph showed the former heavyweight champion standing alongside the bereaved families, visibly offering comfort and support during their time of grief.