Anthony Joshua’s rival Jake Paul has made a touching tribute to the British boxer’s late friends who died in a car crash in Nigeria on Monday
Jake Paul and Most Valuable Promotions will pay a touching tribute to Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele on Saturday night(Image: healthy_mindset/Instagram)
Jake Paul has revealed that a touching tribute will be paid to the late friends of Anthony Joshua during tonight’s Amanda Serrano vs. Danila Tellez event.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer’s promotion, Most Valuable Promotions, have placed the names of Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami in the centre of the ring canvas in a touching tribute to Joshua’s friends, who both lost their lives earlier this week in a horrific car crash in Nigeria. Joshua escaped the crash with minor injuries.
Days after defeating Paul in a controversial bout, Joshua travelled to Nigeria. The British boxer and his friends were travelling in an SUV that collided with a stationary truck near Makun while travelling on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, in the state of Ogun.
Paul and MVP CEO Nakisa Bidarian have ensured the names of Ayodele and Ghami have been highlighted ahead of Saturday night’s big card in Puerto Rico.
READ MORE: Anthony Joshua flies home to UK ahead of funeral after friends died in car crashREAD MORE: Anthony Joshua’s driver charged over crash that killed boxer’s two friends
After a post confirming Paul’s tribute and promotion, the 28-year-old responded with a simple comment on social media. The star, who broke his jaw in two places fighting Joshua, posted a set of praying hands on X.
That comment follows his message in the immediate aftermath of the tragic crash. “Life is much more important than boxing,” he said.
“I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident,” he posted on X.
Joshua has been released from the hospital and flown home to the United Kingdom ahead of his friends’ funeral. A mosque in London is set to hold a ceremony tomorrow with family, and friends have been invited to a ‘janaza prayer service’ for the late pals.
Joshua is said to be undecided over whether to attend the funeral. There are fears his presence could result in a ‘circus’.
The 36-year-old is said to have cheated death by swapping seats minutes before embarking on the journey which killed his friends. The driver of his car, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving
“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,” Kayode’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, told the Daily Mail.
“I also understand that the journey started in Lagos and that initially Anthony had got into the front seat but the driver asked him to swap seats. He did this because Anthony is a big fellow and he couldn’t see the wing mirror properly so he asked him to move and he sat behind the driver. From what I understand Latif was in front and then changed seats with Anthony.”
Kayode’s case has been adjourned until January 20 for trial.
