Sagamu is not an ideal destination for most. This city faces significant poverty, even by rural Nigerian standards, and in 2023, it saw three banks burned during protests over cash shortages.

For Anthony Joshua, who recently secured a knockout victory in a contentious boxing match against Jake Paul, earning 92.5 million USD, Sagamu has become a "spiritual home". He bears a map of Nigeria tattooed on his right shoulder, a nod to his parents' heritage, and is also the great-grandson of a Yoruba prince.

Anthony Joshua sustained minor injuries, while Latif Ayodele (right) and Sina Ghami (left) died in a serious traffic accident in Nigeria on 29/12.

However, this place, once a source of pure happiness, became the scene of profound tragedy. On 29/12, Joshua witnessed the deaths of his two closest friends, Sina Ghami and Kevin "Latif" Ayodele, when their vehicle collided with the rear of a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, near the Sagamu interchange.

Sina Ghami and Ayodele were both trusted figures in Joshua's inner circle. Ghami was a strength and conditioning and rehabilitation coach, and a co-founder of Evolve Gym in London. He had worked with athletes in the NFL, NBA, and the Michigan State University football team, specializing in musculoskeletal injuries and corrective exercises.

Ayodele was a personal trainer and bodybuilder, and also involved in charitable projects such as the Spot Project in Gambia, which provides better educational facilities and sports equipment for underprivileged children. Both Ghami and Ayodele were pronounced dead at the scene.

Joshua fortunately sustained only minor injuries and received treatment at a local hospital. However, videos showing him being pulled from the wreckage remain haunting. Instead of timely ambulance services, onlookers simply filmed the scene with their phones.

The poverty in the Sagamu region is extreme, meaning even Joshua's considerable wealth and influence could not guarantee prompt medical intervention. Initial reports suggested the driver of the Lexus SUV, in which Joshua was a passenger, was responsible. Traffic safety official Shehu Mohammed warned against "reckless overtaking, speeding, or disregarding traffic laws". However, determining fault in this case is difficult, given the consistently poor driving standards on this route.

The journey from Lagos to Sagamu is known as a major challenge, characterized by chaotic and unregulated roads. Stray animals, dangerous potholes, unofficial toll booths, and vehicles overtaking without signaling contribute to an almost lawless traffic environment. In this context, any accusations of speeding or driver error must be considered against the overall road quality and actual conditions.

Anthony Joshua was rescued from the wreckage before being taken to the hospital.

Currently, the primary concern is Joshua's well-being and the families of the two victims. However, a long-term question arises: can the 36-year-old boxer continue his career? Having just witnessed two close friends die in a horrific accident, will he continue in a sport inherently linked to violence, or will he feel obligated to honor the deceased? This accident, a psychological trauma far greater than any career defeat, could well lead Joshua to consider retirement.

Throughout his career, alongside his confidence, Joshua has shown deep self-awareness. He once stated, "We are all going to die one day, so don't get caught up in trivialities and glitz. Live life to the fullest, because you never know what might happen. Heart disease, war, epidemics can strike at any time, so enjoy each day".

No one could have predicted how eerily accurate those words would become. On 29/12, Joshua posted a video of himself playing table tennis with Ayodele in Nigeria. Just hours later, Ayodele died from the impact of the collision, while Joshua lay stunned in the vehicle.

The British newspaper Telegraph commented, "His choice now is simple yet agonizing: abandon the sport that has defined his life, or continue living by the philosophy of cherishing every moment? Whatever his decision, the only hope is that he makes it for the right reasons – after once again realizing that life is short and full of uncertainties".

By Hong Duy