The fatal accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday, December 29, did more than injure a boxing champion. It claimed the lives of two men described as the pillars of Anthony Joshua’s daily life and career. Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele were not just team members, they were Joshua’s childhood friends and closest confidants.
Sina Ghami was Joshua’s Strength and Conditioning Coach for over a decade. He was a highly respected figure in the global fitness industry.
Sina Ghami is a qualified sports rehabilitator, he specialized in musculoskeletal injuries. Before focusing on Joshua, he worked with elite athletes in the NFL (Le’Veon Bell) and NBA (Draymond Green).He was the co-founder of Evolve Gym in London.
He had just arrived in Nigeria from Miami, where he helped prepare Joshua for his recent victory over Jake Paul.
Known as “Latz,” Ayodele was Joshua’s Personal Trainer and often described as the heart of the team.
He was the architect of the Healthy Mindset philosophy, focusing on the mental discipline required for professional boxing.
The last footage of the two shows them playing a competitive game of table tennis at a private residence in Nigeria just hours before the crash.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the crash involved a black Lexus SUV traveling in a two-vehicle convoy.
According to reports, the passenger in the front seat and the person seated next to Joshua (Ghami and Ayodele) died instantly. Joshua and the driver survived with minor/stable injuries.
While Anthony Joshua is physically stable, his promoter Eddie Hearn and his spokesperson have emphasized the emotional toll this incident has caused on the heavyweight champion. Joshua has reportedly told family and officials that the loss of his brothers is more painful than any injury sustained in the wreckage.
Both were close friends and integral members of Anthony’s team. We ask that space and privacy be given to the families at this time – Matchroom Boxing Official Statement
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally called Joshua on Monday evening to offer his condolences, describing Ghami and Ayodele as dedicated professionals whose loss is a blow to the sporting community.
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