Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has sent a heartfelt message to Anthony Joshua following the car crash in Nigeria that killed two of the British boxer’s close friends, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Last month, Joshua was a passenger in a crash that claimed the lives of his strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami and personal trainer Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele while on holiday in Nigeria.
Earlier this week, Joshua spoke out for the first time after the accident, describing the loss as devastating.
“The last time I spoke to you guys was in Miami. We had so many plans to wrap up 2025, and we were on a mission. We went back home, went to see our families, and everything just got flipped upside down,” Joshua said.
“Not only did their parents, their uncles, their cousins, their friends, and myself lose two great men, we lost people that we dearly care about. They were major players in all of our lives.”
On Friday, Wilder, who has been rumoured to fight Joshua several times throughout the years, sent his support to the former boxing champion at the red carpet of the Ring magazine awards.
“It’s not a good feeling or a good thought when certain situations happen like that, especially when we got a fellow mate that’s in boxing to go through something tragic like that, and see certain things happen to family members and friends. It’s devastating,” Wilder said.
“I hope he heals very well, mentally, physically, and emotionally.”
The 36-year-old Joshua sustained minor injuries in the incident on December 29 when the vehicle he was travelling in collided with a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos.
While Joshua has not said whether he will fight again, promoter Eddie Hearn believes he will return to boxing when the time is right.
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