Just days before losing his life in a devastating road accident, Latif "Latz" Ayodele shared a video reflecting on what truly matters.
The personal trainer posted footage of himself travelling and enjoying time with friends, accompanied by the message: "In between your goals, remember there's a precious thing called life that you need to enjoy."
Those words proved tragically prescient when, on Monday, the Lexus SUV carrying Ayodele, fellow team member Sina Ghami and boxer Anthony Joshua struck a stationary lorry close to a petrol station along the Lagos-Ibadan highway.
Both Ayodele and Ghami, aged 36 and longstanding companions of the former heavyweight champion, succumbed to their injuries. Joshua remains hospitalised in stable condition.
The two men were far more than employees to Joshua – they formed the backbone of his professional operation.
Ghami served as the boxer's full-time sport and exercise rehabilitation coach, with their partnership spanning more than a decade.
His expertise helped prepare Joshua for career-defining moments, including the 2017 title victory over Wladimir Klitschko and this month's stoppage of Jake Paul in Miami.
Just days before losing his life in a devastating road accident, Latif "Latz" Ayodele shared a video reflecting on what truly matters
|Beyond boxing, Ghami had also trained NFL running back Le'Veon Bell and NBA star Draymond Green.
Ayodele worked as Joshua's personal trainer, with the pair captured playing table tennis together on Instagram mere hours before the collision.
Boxing commentator Steve Bunce told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Sina and Latz are massive parts of the Anthony Joshua machine."
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Latif "Latz" Ayodele was Anthony Joshua's personal trainer
| INSTAGRAMA spokesperson for Joshua described both men as "integral" to the boxer's team, calling news of their deaths "truly shocking and devastating."
Matchroom Boxing and 258 BXG released a statement confirming the tragedy: "With profound sadness it has been confirmed that two close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele have tragically passed away."
The promoters added that Joshua had sustained injuries requiring hospital treatment but remained stable and would stay under observation.
They requested privacy for all those affected during this difficult period.
Chairman Eddie Hearn expressed his grief: "With the heaviest of hearts. Two great men. Rest in eternal peace Sina and Latz. My thoughts and deepest prayers are with everyone."
Anthony Joshua appeared dazed in video footage that emerged on social media after his car crash | XTributes poured in from across the sporting world following news of the tragedy. British middleweight Chris Eubank Jr wrote: "Thank god our heavyweight champ survived that horrible car crash. And pray for the two fallen soldiers Latz & Sina & their families. I knew both, they were genuinely good men. Rest in Peace boys."
Jake Paul posted on X: "Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today's unfortunate accident."
British bantamweight Shannon Courtenay reflected: "Last week we're all having fun in Miami and today you're gone, life really is too short."
Former New Zealand rugby international Sonny Bill Williams also paid tribute, sharing photographs with Joshua and Ayodele.