Anthony Joshua’s Heartbreaking Call With Kamaru Usman in Hospital After Crash

A video has emerged of heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua talking to UFC star Kamaru Usman after surviving a crash that killed two of the Brit’s close friends near Lagos, Nigeria at the end of last month.

The Lexus SUV that Joshua and his friends were being driven in collided with a stationary truck on the Lagon-Ibadan Expressway in Nigeria. The Olympic champion miraculously survived the crash which killed Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, both members of the boxer’s team.

The 36-year-old was pulled from the wreckage before being rushed to the Duchess International Hospital for treatment to minor injuries. After spending New Year’s Eve in the hospital, he flew back to England to attend Ghami and Ayodele’s funeral at the London Central Mosque.

The footage of Joshua’s call with former UFC welterweight champion Usman showed the Brit seated inside a treatment room with bandages on his head and body. In the clip posted on YouTube, Joshua can be heard saying: “Obviously, two of my close friends passed away.”

The MMA star, who was in Lagos for an MMA event, asked whether the two who lost their lives were sat in the front of the vehicle when it crashed. Joshua replied, saying: “One was in the front and one was behind him, on the right side. They both passed away. It still hasn’t sunk in. It still hasn’t hit me yet.”

Usman offered a sympathic response: “I’m sorry for that man. Hey, you scared the world, I’ll tell you that right now.

“Life is short man, life is short,” Usman continued, before Joshua tried to take some positive from this ordeal: “And now look, I get to speak with you for the first time.”

“I know. It’s a funny way of moving things, you know?” replied the Nigerian-born Usman, before continuing: “You scared the world. It’s crazy because, obviously, we deal with the haters and all the bull**** each and every time, and it sucks that it takes something serious like this to really see how many people have their eyes on you.”

Fallout From Car Crash Involving Anthony Joshua

It was revealed that Joshua was originally sat in the front passenger seat. However, the driver asked the six-foot-six heavyweight to sit in the back because he couldn’t see his side mirror, in a move that ultimately saved his life.

The driver, Adeniyi Kayode, who also escaped the incident without injury, was later charged with dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, having no license, and driving without due care and attention causing bodily harm to damage and property at Sagamu Magistrates Court soon after the accident.

His case was adjourned to later in the month. Following the sentencing, Kayode’s lawyer told the Daily Mail: “My client has pleaded not guilty and what happened was an accident. I haven’t had a full chance to speak with him yet, but I know he is saying the brakes did not work.”