In his first public address since the fatal car crash in Nigeria that took the lives of his closest friends, Anthony Joshua spoke not as a boxer or global star but simply as a grieving brother. In a heartfelt video message shared after weeks of silence, Joshua addressed the devastating loss of two men he described as central to his life: “They’re my brothers, they’re my friends, first and foremost,” he said.
The tragedy, which occurred during a visit home to Nigeria, came after what Joshua described as a period filled with plans and momentum. “We had so many plans to wrap up 2025… we were on a mission,” he recalled. “Everything just got flipped upside on its head,” he said.
Joshua explained that while fans often see the public figure, the fighter, the icon, this loss struck at something far more personal. These weren’t distant acquaintances or professional connections. They were the people beside him through every chapter.
“We became business partners… hustlers… lieutenants… generals… housemates,” he shared.
Joshua also reflected on mortality. “One day my time will come and I’m not scared either,” he said. “It’s actually comforting knowing I’ve got two brothers on the other side.”
For Joshua, the loss is immense, but so is the responsibility he feels to carry their dreams forward. “The mission must go on… I understand my duty,” he said, explaining that his focus now is helping fulfill what they wanted for their families.
And while the world may frame moments like this in terms of legacy, Joshua resisted that language. “It ain’t about legacy,” he said. “It’s just doing what’s right.”
