After Anthony Joshua‘s car accident in Nigeria that killed two of his closest friends, Kamaru Usman was one of the closest to get a direct update from the boxer. In the footage shared by the former UFC welterweight champion, Joshua remained calm yet noticeably upset. He explained what transpired.

“Obviously, two of my close friends passed away,” he said, his voice steady but distant.

‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ asked about the crash itself, hoping to understand how it occurred. The 36-year-old stated that one friend was seated in the front of the SUV and the other straight behind him. Both Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele were killed instantly. The accident took place on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Nigeria.

The former WBA heavyweight champion further said, “It still hasn’t sunk in; it still hasn’t hit me yet.”

Reflecting on how rapidly things had changed, the boxer admitted that life was short, and he was just lucky he survived.

Footage from the accident showed Joshua being pulled from the wreckage, wincing in pain. Soon, he was rushed to the Duchess International Hospital for treatment. And during the call with Usman, the boxer seemed to be seated inside a treatment room as he reflected back on the accident. He had bandages on his head and torso.

The call between the two fight veterans was their first direct conversation, made possible only by tragic circumstances. But despite the situation surrounding him, what truly stood out the most was Joshua’s composure.

“I’m sorry for that man. Hey, you scared the world, I’ll tell you that right now,” Usman told Joshua.

The video call between them took place when Usman was backstage at his African Knockout Championship event, which was held on December 30th in Lagos, Nigeria.

And clips of their discussion went viral on social media. However, many fight fans were not happy that a call, which should have been private, was filmed and published online. Here’s what fans said.

Fans speak out against Kamaru Usman’s decision to upload the conversation

When the FaceTime video aired on Kamaru Usman’s YouTube channel, the tone around the exchange shifted sharply. The backlash was quick. Fans asked why such a vulnerable moment required an audience at all.

• “Why is this convo being filmed and posted?”
• “Heartfelt moment, and a guy is filming a private interaction.”

However, not everyone saw it through that lens. A smaller group argued that the purpose may not have been exploitative at all.

Top Stories

Anthony Joshua Joins Mother in Paying Final Respects to Late Friends After Hospital Release

“RIP”: Fans Come Together in Mourning Saddening Demise of Prince Naseem Hamed’s Brother

Turki Alalshikh Catches Strays as Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder Reports Draw Fans Ire

Teofimo Lopez Needs Only One Strategy to Beat Shakur Stevenson, Says a Junior Welterweight Boxing Champ

“Stop”: Jarrell Miller Makes Emotional Plea After Family Car Crash as Anthony Joshua Story Hits Home

• “I think it’s good that AJ’s fans are able to hear from him.”
• “Would assume Usman got permission to use this footage.”

As per reports, Joshua spent New Year’s Eve in the hospital. He then flew to the United Kingdom for Ghami and Ayodele’s funerals on January 4.

Gami, who was believed to be in his 30s, was often seen with Joshua in the gym and also in his corner during the match against Jake Paul in Miami on December 19. On the other hand, Ayodele was Joshua’s friend before he started his boxing career.

On Sunday, the boxer shared a photo on Instagram with the family members of his deceased friends, captioning it, “My Brother’s Keeper”. While fans know Joshua is safe, they weren’t happy with his conversation with Usman being posted online.

• “Why is the guy recording?”

In the end, the argument said less about the video and more about how differently fight fans draw the line between sharing and protecting grief. But what do you think? Was it the right move by Kamaru Usman to record the conversation between him and Anthony Joshua? Let us know in the comments.