Anthony Joshua has paid tribute to two close friends killed in a car crash in December as he returned to the ring for the first time since the tragedy.
Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele died while the car they were travelling in struck a truck on a road near Lagos in December.
The heavyweight boxer, who was also in the vehicle, was taken to hospital before being discharged and flying home to the UK – where he attended the funerals of his strength and conditioning coach Ghami and Ayodele, one of his trainers.
And in his return to the ring after seven months of inactivity – beating Kristian Prenga by knockout in the second round after being knocked down twice himself in the first – Joshua honoured Ghami and Ayodele with their names on his military camo trunks.
Meanwhile, ‘Latz x Sina, My Brother’s Keeper, MBK’ was printed on the canvas in his corner.
Asked about how he has been coping after beating Prenga, Joshua said: ‘It’s been tough,’ before becoming emotional. ‘That’s my brothers. I don’t want to talk about that.’
Joshua, born in Watford to Nigerian parents, was on holiday in Lagos after his win over Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.
In February, Joshua commemorated Ghami and Ayodele by having their names tattooed on his arm.
Oleksandr Usyk was ringside for the clash in Jeddah to support Joshua, whom he beat twice in world title fights. Usyk has been working closely with Joshua, supporting his training camp.
Victory for Joshua means he is on track to finally fight Tyson Fury in a long-awaited British heavyweight showdown.
