Nigeria MMA fighter Usman apologises for leaked video call with Joshua after fatal crash
Controversy emerged after a short video clip circulated online showing Joshua speaking to Usman on a video call just hours after the collision.
Nigerian-American mixed martial artist Kamaru Usman has issued an apology after footage of a video call conversation with boxing star Anthony Joshua was shared online in the aftermath of a fatal road accident that killed two of Joshua’s coaches.
Joshua was a passenger in a Lexus SUV that collided with a stationary truck on a major motorway near Lagos, Nigeria, on 29 December.
The crash claimed the lives of two of his close friends and teammates, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Their funerals were held on Sunday at a mosque in London.
Tributes have poured in from across the combat sports community, with Joshua vowing to support the families of Ghami and Ayodele for the rest of their lives.
The video call
Controversy emerged after a short video clip circulated online showing Joshua speaking to Usman on the video call app FaceTime just hours after the collision. The call is believed to have taken place on December 30, ahead of an MMA event in Lagos.
During the conversation with the former UFC welterweight champion, Joshua was seated in a treatment room, appearing with bandages on his head and torso as he recalled the traumatic incident.
Usman, 38, faced online criticism after a snippet of the video call was posted, prompting him to issue an apology via his Instagram Stories.
“After seeing what’s being written, it’s quite heartbreaking. Being on camera that whole day in preparation for The AKO show, it completely slipped my mind that my conversation was recorded,” he wrote.
“I realized after and asked about it. I take full responsibility for not properly watching the video that was released and keeping my private conversation with my brother AJ private. SMH. Big L on me. That’s not something I would ever do to a friend/brother.”
Joshua’s boxing future
Shortly after Usman’s statement, a grief-stricken Joshua shared another tribute to his friends on social media. “Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers,” he wrote on Instagram.
There remains uncertainty over Joshua’s boxing future as he continues to process the emotional impact of the tragedy. His long-time promoter Eddie Hearn addressed the situation on Thursday, stressing that discussions about the former world champion’s career are on hold.
“At the moment, Anthony needs time. Time and privacy. There will be no conversations from us about a career, any moves, what’s next,” Hearn told talkSPORT.
“This is a terrible tragedy and Anthony’s going to need his own time, physically and emotionally. And at the moment, there’s nothing to discuss or say. Let’s give him his time and pray for him and of course all the families involved in this terrible incident.”