Anthony Joshua's close friend Ade Oladipo has shared his thoughts on the star boxer's career amid claims he has retired from the sport.
Joshua was involved in a fatal car crash that took the lives of close friends and team members Sina Ghami Lateef 'Latz' Ayodele.
The trio had been passengers in a black Lexus when it ploughed into a stationary truck in Nigeria, with the driver charged by local police.
Joshua has since returned to the UK, where he paid his respects to Sina and Lateef at a mosque for the funeral on Sunday.
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It remains unclear whether the ex-world heavyweight champion will resume his professional career, having stopped Jake Paul in a money-spinning fight last month.
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But Joshua’s uncle Adedamola has claimed that the 36-year-old has 'retired from boxing' following the accident.
Joshua's pal and broadcaster Oladipo has reacted to claims his mate has called time on his career by stating 'we need to hear it from the horse's mouth', which he believes will 'take time'.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, he said "When I heard the news, I was away on holiday. I was with my partner in Dubai and started to get so many messages about this. And with the way the world is nowadays, I thought it's fake news. I was like, okay, no, it couldn't have happened. I mean, it's fake news.
"I've been following AJ's Instagram. He's okay. He's in Nigeria. He's getting ready to travel and meet family and friends and then when it starts to drip the information, it does drip. It's slow. And you hear about, okay. There's been two people that have lost their lives in this car. Okay, who was in that car?
"And you're praying and hoping it isn't people that you know, people that are close to AJ, and then it comes out that it's Lateef Ayodele, as you said, and Sinha and these are two people that I know well because they've been around AJ.
"They've been around AJ obviously longer than I've known AJ. So as soon as I started to do the interviews and sit downs with AJ, they were always there. And it's hard to think that they're not going to be there anymore.
"These weren't just people that worked for AJ, these were AJ's very, very good friends. They are two people that AJ's grown up with. And you probably see in photos doing the rounds on the internet now."
Oladipo added: "So it's going to be difficult. It's going to be difficult for everyone involved. Obviously, it's going to be difficult for Anthony Joshua. it's just a tough moment. It's a tough break and it kind of makes you appreciate life a lot more.
"AJ obviously had the high of the Jake Paul fight and what it did for his brand in America, and he was really high. And then for this to happen, it's just it's heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking.
"So, look, we wait and see. There are so many things going out right now about AJ being retired and is AJ going to continue fighting? I think we just need to hear it from the horse's mouth, and i think that's going to take time. I think AJ needs time right now and everyone around them needs time.
"I don't know what happens next. I really don't, but obviously thoughts and prayers with the families of Sina Ghami Lateef Ayodele."
Joshua had been expected to make a swift return to the ring, with a fight in the first quarter of 2026 mooted.
That would have preceded a potential all-British showdown against long-time rival Tyson Fury.
Topics: Anthony Joshua, Boxing
Nasir Jabbar