Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is reportedly considering quitting his boxing career, according to information obtained by PUNCH from his uncle, Adedamola Joshua.
Following last week’s tragedy, the 36-year-old boxer, who survived a fatal vehicle crash in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends and teammates, disclosed the decision to his family in private.
“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 during a visit to the family home in Sagamu on Monday morning.
“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. Now that he has said that he’s leaving while the ovation is highest, we are happy.”
When asked asked if Anthony Joshua had communicated this decision to the family.
“Yes,” the uncle confirmed.
The boxing legend has also pledged to support the families of his two close friends, Latif “Latz” Ayodele and Sina Ghami, who lost their lives in the automobile accident outside Lagos last Monday, for the rest of their lives.
On Sunday, Anthony Joshua broke his public silence by posting pictures of himself with the grieving family members on Instagram. “My Brothers Keeper” was the description for his photo, which also included a military helmet emblem for protection and two heart emojis. The statement conveys a moral duty to care for others and alludes to a religious text from Genesis 4:9.
A source within Joshua’s camp told UK publication The Sun, “AJ is fiercely loyal to his friends and their families and will be there for them for the rest of their lives. He’s had the same team around him for his whole career, and that team included Sina and Latz.”
Both individuals were essential to Joshua’s boxing preparation; Ghami was his strength and conditioning coach and Ayodele was his personal trainer.
The tragic incident occurred when the pair had travelled to Nigeria with Anthony Joshua to visit his family. Their Lexus SUV collided with a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Both Ghami and Ayodele were killed instantly at the scene.
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