A UFC star has revealed the heartbreaking conversation he had with Anthony Joshua as the boxer recovered from injuries sustained in a horrific car crash last month.
According to a YouTube video posted by UFC fighter Kamaru Usman, the call took place before an MMA event in Lagos, Nigeria on December 30.
On December 29, Joshua miraculously survived a crash which killed two of his friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The British heavyweight star was seen being pulled from the wreckage, wincing in pain, before being rushed to the Duchess International Hospital for treatment.
During the call with Usman, Joshua was seated inside a treatment room and recounted the incident while appearing to have bandages on his head and torso.
He began by saying: ‘Obviously, two of my close friends passed away’.
Anthony Joshua held a video call with UFC star Kamaru Usman while recovering in hospital following a tragic car crash that claimed the lives of his two close friends on December 29
Joshua appeared to have bandages across his body as he called from a Lagos hospital
The British heavyweight star was pictured exiting the car following the crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Lagos, Nigeria
Usman, a former UFC welterweight champion, questioned whether Ghami and Ayodele had been seated in the front of the black Lexus when it crashed.
Joshua replied: ‘One was in the front and one was behind him, on the right side. They both passed away. It still hasn’t sunk in. It still hasn’t hit me yet’.
Usman said: ‘I’m sorry for that man. Hey, you scared the world, I’ll tell you that right now.’
Joshua replied: ‘Life is short man, life is short. And now look, I get to speak with you for the first time’.
Usman then said: ‘I know. It’s a funny way of moving things, you know?
‘You scared the world. It’s crazy because obviously, we deal with the haters and all the bull**** each and every time and it sucks that it takes something serious like this to really see how many people have their eyes on you’.
The video was taken while Usman was backstage at his African Knockout Championship event.
Despite the tragedy and the injuries which he sustained from the crash, Joshua appeared in good spirits as he spoke with Usman on the phone.
The chauffeur that crashed the car carrying Joshua was 47-year-old Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode
Joshua is pictured with Latif Ayodele (centre) and Sina Ghami (right) who both died in the crash
Joshua spent New Year’s Eve in the hospital as he recovered before flying back to the United Kingdom for Ghami and Ayodele’s funerals on January 4.
Daily Mail Sport exclusively revealed previously how Joshua had cheated death after swapping seats from the front to the back of his SUV ahead of the crash which occurred just hours after they arrived in Nigeria.
Adeniyi Kayode, 47, was driving the black Lexus SUV when it ploughed into the back of a stationary truck carrying soya beans as he drove Joshua and his friends.
The boxer and Kayode himself escaped without incurring serious injuries.
Kayode appeared before a magistrate in Sagamu on Friday charged with dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, having no licence and driving without due care and attention causing bodily harm to damage and property.
The driver’s lawyer Olalekan Abiodun told the Daily Mail: ’My client has pleaded not guilty and what happened was an accident, I haven’t had a full chance to speak with him yet but I know he is saying the brakes did not work.
‘I also understand that the journey started in Lagos and that initially Anthony had got into the front seat but the driver asked him to swap seats.‘
‘From what I understand Latif was in front and then changed seats with Anthony.’
Joshua was being treated at the Duchess International Hospital (pictured above) in Nigeria
Joshua has no plans to retire despite suggestions, Daily Mail Sport understands
Bail was set at 5 million Naira (£2,580) but under the Nigerian system this doesn’t have to be cash and valuables are admissible.
His case was adjourned to 20th January this year for his trial.
Ayodele, a personal trainer who goes by ‘Healthy Mindset’ online, is a long-standing friend of Joshua’s – with their friendship stretching back before the start of the champion boxer’s career.
He featured Joshua in his first post on Instagram in 2015 to mark his friend’s first world title win against Charles Martin, captioning the photo ‘what a night’.
Ghami, also believed to be in his 30s, was often seen in the gym with Joshua and was in his corner for his successful fight with Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.
He co-founded Evolve Gym in London, which describes Mr Ghami on its website as a qualified sports and exercise rehabilitator who specialized in musculoskeletal injuries and corrective exercise.
