Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is considering stepping away from boxing following the tragic car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close friends and team members.
The 36-year-old boxer reportedly informed his family privately about the possibility of retirement after surviving the crash near Lagos last week. Speaking at the family home in Sagamu on Monday, Joshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, said the news has brought a sense of relief to the family.
“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,” he told The Punch. “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 whether Joshua had directly shared the decision with the family, his uncle confirmed that he had.
In addition to contemplating his future in the sport, Joshua has pledged to provide lifelong support to the families of Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, who died in the accident. The boxer broke his public silence on Sunday by posting photos with the grieving families on Instagram.
