Anthony Joshua breaks silence after two friends die in horror SUV crash

 Anthony Joshua has broken his silence for the first time after a devastating car crash that took the lives of two of his closest friends.

The 36-year-old was travelling as a passenger in the rear of a black SUV when it collided with a stationary lorry on a main road near Lagos, Nigeria. Whilst Joshua cheated death by a whisker, the horrific smash tragically killed both Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami.

'AJ' remained under medical supervision for several days due to minor injuries he suffered in the heartbreaking accident. Authorities have now opened an inquiry following reports that the lorry driver is being sought by police after doing a runner from the scene.

After three days in hospital, the former two-time heavyweight world champion posted on Instagram: "My Brothers Keeper" accompanied by a photograph of himself with his two mates. The funerals for Joshua's friends are taking place in London today, though it remains uncertain whether the boxer will be present over concerns his attendance could transform the occasion into a "circus", reports the Mirror.

Joshua and his mother Yeta Odusanya visited a funeral parlour on Wednesday afternoon to pay their final respects to both Ayodele and Ghami before their bodies were flown back to the UK, according to a statement.

It continued: "Anthony Joshua was discharged from hospital late this afternoon though heavy hearted and full of emotions over the loss of his two close friends he was deemed clinical fit to recuperate from home."

Babatunde Akinbiyi, a spokesman for Ogun State's Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, revealed: "From the preliminary investigation that was conducted, definitely there was overspeeding on the part of the SUV Anthony Joshua was travelling in. In the course of that, the front tyre on the passenger side burst. That led to loss of control before the vehicle now swerved and rammed into the stationary truck that was parked. There was excessive speed."

The motorist is set to face charges from Nigerian police for 'reckless driving,' according to The Daily Mail.

The chauffeur was released from a Lagos hospital late on New Year's Eve and was reportedly transported two hours north to Abeokuta, Ogun state's capital.

Additional reports indicated he underwent several hours of questioning whilst also providing an official account of the events leading up to the collision.

"The driver was released after treatment for minor injuries and was then taken to the state police headquarters for questioning," a police source allegedly informed the Mail.

"He is in a stable condition and was able to provide us with his version of events that led up to the crash and we expect a charging decision within the next 48 hours but the bank holiday may delay proceedings. It is possible he could be in court on Friday but it depends how quickly the process moves and it would be for reckless driving."

The tragic incident occurred just days after Joshua delivered a devastating knockout victory upon his boxing comeback. 'AJ' floored YouTuber-turned-pugilist Jake Paul in the sixth round in Miami, pocketing a massive £70million for the bout.

The British fighter had been slated to step back into the ring next month before facing Tyson Fury later this summer.

Yet his boxing career now remains uncertain, with promoter Frank Warren conceding that a potential clash might not materialise until late 2026 - if at all. Speaking to The Mirror, Fury's promoter Warren confessed he's unsure what lies ahead for both fighters following the devastating incident - and has now dismissed any possibility of them clashing as early as 2026.