American social media star and boxer Jake Paul has publicly honored two deceased members of Anthony Joshua's inner circle, weeks after his high-profile boxing loss to the British heavyweight champion.
A Tribute From a Former Opponent
On Friday, 3 January 2026, Jake Paul used his X (formerly Twitter) account to share a heartfelt message alongside a video clip from their recent fight. He described the bout, which was streamed live on Netflix, as a global spectacle that required immense effort from many people, including Joshua's team.
In his post, Paul wrote: "2 WEEKS LATER…#JakeJoshua 33M viewers tuned on Netflix to watch boxing. The event was #1 in 45 countries. This night was only made possible by the hard work of many, including Team Joshua. This video is dedicated to the memory Sina and Latz. Rest in peace."
The tribute comes approximately two weeks after the fight, which ended with Joshua stopping Paul in the sixth round during their heavyweight clash in Miami in late 2025.
The Tragic Accident on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
The two men honored, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, were far more than just aides to Anthony Joshua. They were close friends and integral parts of his camp. Their lives were tragically cut short in a fatal road accident in Nigeria in December 2025.
The crash occurred along the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the vehicle carrying the boxer and his team collided with a stationary commercial truck. Preliminary investigations indicated that the Lexus SUV was suspected to have been speeding and lost control during an overtaking maneuver near the Shagamu interchange.
Five adult men were involved in the incident. Tragically, Ghami and Ayodele lost their lives at the scene. Anthony Joshua sustained injuries and was rushed to the hospital.
Remembering the Pillars of Team Joshua
Matchroom Boxing, Joshua's promoters, confirmed the devastating news in an official statement. "With profound sadness, it has been confirmed that two close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, have tragically passed away," the statement read. It also confirmed Joshua was in a stable condition under observation.
Sina Ghami was a highly respected sports rehabilitation expert who had worked as Joshua's strength and conditioning coach for over a decade. He was pivotal in preparing Joshua for career-defining fights, including the iconic 2017 victory over Wladimir Klitschko and the recent win against Jake Paul.
Latif Ayodele, affectionately known as Latz, was Joshua's personal trainer and a close confidant. In a poignant twist, Joshua had shared a social media video of the two men playing table tennis together just hours before the fatal crash.
The Ogun State Government had earlier reported that Joshua was conscious and stable after the accident and did not require emergency intervention. Joshua was in Nigeria to celebrate the New Year with family following his victory over Paul.
