Joshua flies back to Britain for full recovery
LONDON—Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has reportedly flown back to Britain several days after a fatal car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his friends.
Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele died after the vehicle they were traveling in, along with Joshua, struck a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos on Monday.
Joshua sustained minor injuries and the two-time heavyweight champion was released from a hospital on Wednesday after being deemed clinically fit to recuperate at home.
British media reported on Saturday that Joshua has returned home ahead of the funerals of Ghami and Ayodele.
Ghami was Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, while Ayodele was a trainer. Just hours before the crash, Joshua and Ayodele posted clips on social media playing table tennis together.
The driver of the car, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, was charged on Friday with dangerous and reckless driving, with the court case adjourned to Jan. 20 for trial.
Joshua has family roots in Nigeria and he briefly attended boarding school there as a child. He also holds Nigerian nationality.
Paul out of ranking
Meanwhile, Jake Paul has slipped out of the WBA cruiserweight rankings after the YouTuber-turned-boxer was soundly beaten by Joshua last month.
Paul’s jaw was broken in two places and the American needed surgery to repair the damage after Joshua’s sixth-round knockout victory in a heavyweight bout in Miami.
Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) had entered the WBA’s cruiserweight rankings at No. 14 in July shortly after he beat 39-year-old Julio César Chávez Jr. by unanimous decision in Anaheim, California.
He was at No. 15 entering the bout against Joshua.
