‘Their Mission Must Continue’, Boxer Anthony Joshua Vows To Carry On Deceased Friends’ Legacy

Former world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, has vowed to continue the legacy of his late trainer, Latif Ayodele, popularly known as Laz, and strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, describing the duo as brothers whose mission must go on despite their tragic and sudden deaths.

Joshua made the pledge in an emotional video posted on his official Facebook page on Thursday, stating that he remained resolute about moving forward and fulfilling the goals his late friends had for their families.

“But the mission must go on. I understand their duties and what they wanted to do for their families. My goal now is to help them achieve their goals even though they are not here in the physical,” he said.

Joshua noted that he chose to address the public directly because of the overwhelming love and support he had received from around the world.

“I am here in front of a camera speaking with all of you people live. If you know my character, I would not prefer to do that, but there’s what I want and there’s reality, so this is the best way I can reach out to all of you worldwide who have been showing so much love and care and support through that tragic and traumatic time that we lost Laz and Sina in Nigeria,” Joshua said.

He recalled that the last time he spoke to fans was while he was in Miami, explaining that his team had been wrapping up plans for 2025 before returning home to spend time with their families.

“The last time I spoke to you guys was in Miami. We had so many places to wrap up 2025 and we were on a mission. We went back home, went to see our families and everything just got flipped up,” he said.

Joshua described the incident as an unforeseen circumstance beyond human control, noting that even the best plans can be overtaken by events.

“God is called the best planner. We can plan to the best of our capabilities, but that was an unforeseen circumstance beyond all of our control,” he said.

He stressed that the loss was deeply personal to him and not limited to the immediate families of the deceased.

“Not only did their families, their uncles and their parents lose, I myself lost two great men. We lost people that we really care about and major players in our lives. It’s tough, but I’m not going to sit here and show all of my emotions,” Joshua said.

Describing his relationship with both men, the boxer said they were far more than colleagues.

“They are my brothers, my friends, first and foremost. Then we became business partners, we became hustlers, we became lieutenants, we became generals, we became housemates,” he said.

Joshua said their presence had been central to his journey, adding that their absence had left a deep void.

“I’ve lost people before, but I’ve not lost people that are my right and left. They were by my side throughout this journey. I was the big guy because I had giants that kept me shielded,” he said.

He added that he draws strength from his faith and the belief that his fallen friends remain with him in spirit.

“It’s a shame, but one day my time will come and I’m not scared at all. It actually gives me confidence that I have two brothers on the other side,” Joshua said.

The boxer said continuing their legacy would not be a solo effort, noting that a wider support system was committed to the cause.

“I will say my prayers in the morning and night. And it’s not just me — there is a team of brothers and sisters that will help continue their legacies,” he said.

Joshua also acknowledged the outpouring of messages, prayers and tributes from supporters across the world, saying the love had not gone unnoticed.

“I appreciate the love. It’s acknowledged by me, by them, and by their families,” he said. “We saw the messages, the tweets, the social media, the prayers. On behalf of me and their families, we acknowledge your love.”

Still grappling with the reality of the loss, Joshua reflected on the journey they shared and the years they spent shaping their lives.

“I’m still trying to wrap my head around it because we grew up together, and now they spent a lot of time building their characters to become the men that they were,” he said.

LEADERSHIP recalls that Laz and Sina died in a fatal road accident in Nigeria on December 29, 2025, while travelling as part of Anthony Joshua’s team, a development that sent shockwaves through the boxing community and drew widespread tributes from fans and athletes around the world.