By James Regan

Anthony Joshua has spoken publicly for the first time since the December car crash in Nigeria that killed his two friends.

Joshua was involved in the crash Dec. 29 near Lagos, Nigeria, that killed his two friends Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele.

On Thursday, the former two-time heavyweight champion released an emotional YouTube video in which he discussed the incident for the first time.

“The last time I spoke to you guys was in Miami. We had so many plans to wrap up 2025, and we were on a mission,” Joshua said.

“We went back home, went to see our families and everything just got flipped up on its head. God’s the best planner. We can plan to the best of our capabilities, but that was such an unforeseen circumstance that was out of all of our control.

“Not even did their parents, uncles, cousins, friends and myself lose two great men, we lost people that we dearly care about and that have been major players in all of our lives.

“It’s tough. It’s really tough. I’m not going to sit here and show all of my emotions. In today’s day and age, it’s easy to microanalyse people and pass judgement, but I know what I feel, and that’s all that matters to me. I know what my duty is.”

Sina Ghami, Anthony Joshua and Latif Ayodele Instagram
Joshua, 36, held back tears while talking about his friends. In the video’s caption, he conceded the speech “took a few attempts.”

“It’s a shame. It’s a shame … So, there’s that side of things. What can I say,” an emotional Joshua said.

“One day my time will come, and I’m not scared. … At all. It’s actually comforting I’ve got two brothers on the other side. I’ve lost people before, but I don’t think I’ve lost people like that. … My left and my right, you know?

“I was walking with giants that kept me protected.”

Joshua thanked people for their messages of support and vowed to fulfil the dreams of his “brothers.”

“What my goal is is to continue to help them achieve their goals. Even though they may not be here in the physical, when I pray, I know spiritually they’re going to aid me through. It’s not just physical strength that will get me through; it’s going to take a lot.

“A lot of strength from a higher power, so I’m definitely going to be saying my prayers, and I’m going to help them fulfil their dreams for their families.

“Not only me, there’s a whole team of us. … A whole brotherhood, a whole sisterhood that will be helping fulfil their legacy and dreams.

“I don’t think I’ve mentioned the love and appreciation. It’s all acknowledged by me, by them, by their families. We acknowledged the thousands, maybe going into millions, around the world that showed so much love to them both.”

Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s longtime promoter at Matchroom Boxing, said last week that Joshua “will take his time to get back on track” as the boxer continues his recovery from the crash.

By Tom Jenkins

WWE legend Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71 his family have confirmed.

Hogan, was reportedly found dead in his Clearwater, Florida, home on Thursday morning.

According to TMZ, first responders arrived on the scene following a 911 call reporting a cardiac arrest.

Paramedics and police were reportedly parked outside Hogan’s Florida home on Thursday morning.

TMZ reported that the wrestling icon was wheeled out of his home on a stretcher and into an ambulance.

The 71-year-old was reportedly recovering from major operation on his heart just months before his death according to US Weekly.

Hogan was involved in the WWE since 1983, and became the face of the company in the 80s and early 90s before leaving to pursue acting in 1993.

The official cause of death is yet to be officially confirmed.

Hugo Ekitike has joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal which could be rise to £79m.

By Paul Gorst

Liverpool have completed the signing of striker Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal that could be worth £79m. Ekitike underwent a medical on Tuesday in London before putting the finishing touches on a six-year deal and he will now fly out to join his new team-mates on the Hong Kong leg of their pre-season tour of Asia.

The striker could make his unofficial debut when the Reds meet AC Milan at the Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday, although it is more likely he will be fielded when the Premier League champions are hosted by Yokohama F Marinos in Japan next week.

The France Under-21 international becomes the seventh signing of the summer after deals were completed for Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez in a busy June that also saw goalkeepers Armin Pecsi and Freddie Woodman arrive alongside Giorgi Mamardashvili, whose £29m agreement with Valencia was struck last year.

Newcastle United failed in a bid worth around £70m last week before Liverpool swooped to bring Ekitike to Anfield in a deal that makes him, inclusive of add-ons, the club’s third most expensive player of all time behind £116m Wirtz and Darwin Nunez,

The broad outline of the terms was agreed on Saturday before a full agreement was finally reached on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s medical and the deal takes Liverpool’s spending this summer close to the £300m mark.

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The Reds will pay Frankfurt an initial £69m with a further £10m in success-based add-ons for a player who scored 22 goals and claimed 12 assists last year.

The terms are being viewed internally as similar to the £16m worth of fees due to Bayer Leverkusen if new club-record signing Wirtz becomes a major hit on Merseyside.

Ekitike, who had also been courted by Chelsea and Manchester United, joined Frankfurt initially on loan from Paris Saint-Germain before completing a permanent deal last summer for around £15m and his performances last time out put a slew of major European clubs on notice.

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Liverpool are believed to have initially sounded out the 23-year-old’s availability in January, before stepping up their interest in May, having wrapped up the Premier League title with a month to spare to allow Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes more time to work on deals for what has since become the most expensive transfer window of all time on Merseyside.

Attention is now expected to turn to outgoings, with Darwin Nunez still the subject of interest from Serie A and the Saudi Pro League, while Bayern Munich are likely to return with an improved offer for Luis Diaz having seen a bid short of £60m rejected last week.

Federico Chiesa, meanwhile, has been left off the club’s tour of Hong Kong and Japan due to a minor fitness concern but the Italy international has been linked with a return to his homeland after barely featuring last season.