DEVASTATED Anthony Joshua said yesterday “I feel pain all over my body” after the high-speed horror smash which killed two of his pals.
The former world heavyweight boxing champ had a miraculous escape from Monday’s but it claimed the lives of close aides Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele.
Anthony Joshua is pictured in agony as he is pulled from the wreckage of the car crash which killed two of his palsCredit: x
Strength and conditioning coach Sina Ghami, who lost his life in the horror crashCredit: Snapchat
Personal trainer Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele was also killedCredit: Snapchat
Sources close to the British fighter, 36, who , said he had searing pain in his knees and cried out in agony as he was taken from the wreckage of the 4×4 but tests revealed no fractures.
The star will remain in hospital while medics keep an eye on him and carry out further tests over the next few days.
Joshua’s promoters Matchroom declined to detail his injuries last night but confirmed: “Anthony is in a stable condition and will remain there for observation.”
The crash came ten days after AJ celebratedin a money-spinning bout in the US.
Massive parts of the Anthony Joshua machine.
Boxing pundit Steve Bunce on AJ's pals
But insiders fear the grief and mental scars from the road tragedy could put potential mega-fights next year in doubt — including a long-awaited showdown with his bitter UK rival .
Joshua was being comforted in hospital by his mum after miraculously escaping with his life while close aides Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele died.
AJ was said to still be in pain but insiders were more concerned by his mental scars, with a return to the ring unclear without the two pals who were always in his corner as his career skyrocketed.
The pair were killed instantly on Monday morning as the Lexus SUV they were travelling in on the notoriously dangerous Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Makun.
AJ and the local hired driver – both sitting on the opposite side of the car from Sina and Latz – cheated death by inches.
Tributes poured in yesterday to AJ’s strength and conditioning coach Sina and his personal trainer Latz, both 36.
Boxing pundit Steve Bunce described them as “massive parts of the machine”.
He said: “They are with him all the time.
“He calls them his boys.
“They’re more than that.
“They are friends.
“They may have strict jobs, they might be his strength and conditioning coach, his personal trainer, his dietitian, his nutritionist, but they’re close and he loves that close circle.”
The wreckage of the Lexus 4×4 is taken from the scene of the crashCredit: News Central TV
AJ is helped from the car following the smash which killed two friendsCredit: Reuters
Sina can be seen far left as AJ celebrates his victory over Jake PaulCredit: Getty
Joshua – who raked in a reported £70million from his recent KO of YouTuber — was being lined up to face fellow Brit Tyson Fury next year, but insiders say plans for the
Fury yesterday paid a heartfelt tribute, saying of Sina and Latz: “This is so sad.
“May God give them a good bed in heaven.”
He then shared a lengthy interview in which Joshua previously spoke about dealing with a personal tragedy.
Fury added later: “I wish AJ a speedy recovery and would like to send my sincere condolences to the families of his friends.”
Round-the-clock care
, chairman of AJ’s Matchroom promoters, said: “With the heaviest of hearts.
“Two great men.
“Rest in eternal peace Sina and Latz.
“My thoughts and deepest prayers are with everyone.”
AJ – whose parents are both Nigerian – was being comforted by his mum Yeta Odusanya yesterday after she rushed to her son’s bedside.
He is being given round-the-clock care at Nigeria’s top private medical unit, the £2,000-a-night Duchess International Hospital in Lagos.
Nigeria’s president Bola Ahmed Tinubu said he had spoken to Joshua and the fighter’s mum. He went on: “I wished him well and prayed for him.
“He assured me he is receiving the best care in the hospital.”
AJ’s mother rushed to her son’s bedsideCredit: Ray Collins – The Sun
Joshua, centre, with tragic friends killed in the crash — Sina Ghami, left, and Latif Ayodele, rightCredit: instagram/@healthy_mindset
Boxing superstar AJ shirtless and dazed in the back seat after the crash
The boxer and his pals were on holiday in the west African nation, and were expected to stay a week.
They were on their way to AJ’s family home for New Year celebrations in Sagamu when tragedy struck at 11am on Monday.
A relative last night spoke of the family’s “shock” at hearing the tragic news.
Nigerian authorities confirmed AJ escaped with minor injuries as the Lexus – said to have been speeding – went out of control and sideswiped a stationary truck, carving open its passenger side.
Video footage showed the stricken boxer crying out in agony as he was helped from the wreckage, with witnesses saying he was complaining of searing pain in his leg.
A Mitsubishi 4×4, said to have been carrying AJ’s security team, was undamaged yards away.
Sina — who was in AJ’s corner during the Paul fight in Miami — had worked with him for more than ten years as his full-time sport and exercise rehabilitation coach.
He helped the Watford-born boxer prepare for some of his biggest fights, including his world title-winning bout against in 2017.
The fitness guru was a qualified sports and exercise rehabilitator who specialised in musculoskeletal injuries and corrective exercise and co-founded the Evolve Gym in .
There is no one kinder, no one more generous, no one more compassionate, no one more brotherly.
Sina's uncle, Shahryar Rumi
His uncle, Shahryar Rumi said yesterday he was “an angel living amongst us”.
Speaking outside the family home in North West London, he went on: “There is no one kinder, no one more generous, no one more compassionate, no one more brotherly.
“They were friends, Anthony Joshua and Sina.
“They worked together, but they began as friends. Even on this trip. He didn’t want him to be alone, so he went with him.”
The car ploughed into a stationary lorry on a highway in Nigeria
The driver of the red lorry was involved in the crash but was not injured
Joshua’s potential mega-fights next year are now in doubtCredit: Getty
Latz was one of AJ’s oldest friends and knew him long before his superstar career.
He played for Aylesbury United, Tooting & Mitcham United, Hillingdon Borough, AFC Hayes, Chalfont Wasps and Northwood before joining Team AJ.
A fund-raiser set up to build a mosque in his honour and towards clean water projects in Africa had last night topped £160,000.
The organiser said: “I’m absolutely devastated hearing about the passing of my brother.
‘Highway of Death’
“I’m absolutely shocked that he died and I want to be part of the people who help keep his legacy alive.”
Inquiries into the cause of the fatal crash were last night continuing.
Police Commander Babatunde Akinbiyi of Nigeria’s traffic unit said checks showed the Lexus “experienced a tyre burst due to excessive speed” then “lost control”.
The chaotic and busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is known as Nigeria’s “Highway of Death” owing to its horrific safety record.
The 80-mile stretch has claimed 73 lives in the past three months and a total of 645 over the past two years.
Investigators were looking into how the Lexus veered at speed into the truck.
Questions were also raised as to why the lorry was waiting to unload a cargo of soya beans alongside the dangerous highway.
AJ raked in £70million from his ring triumph over influencer Jake PaulCredit: AFP
Sina Ghami, Joshua’s good friend and strength and conditioning coach, died in the accidentCredit: Instagram
Latif Ayodele, pictured with AJ, also tragically died in the collisionCredit: Instagram
Joshua posted a video showing him playing table tennis with Latif just 30 minutes before the accidentCredit: Instagram
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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