WORLD TORN APART

Boxing world rallies round AJ after tragedy, Death of close pals is 'like losing an arm'

- PATRICK HILL

ANTHONY Joshua may never be the same after the horror car crash that killed two of his closest friends, pals fear.

The former world heavyweight boxing champ and Olympic gold medallist, 36, has been joined by his mum at the Duchess International Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria, where his condition is described as stable.

His physical injuries are less serious than first feared after Monday's horror crash.

But friends say he could struggle to overcome the psychological trauma of the crash.

And there are concerns he may not feel able to carry on with his career without strength-and-conditioning coach Sina Ghami and personal trainer Latif Ayodele.

Lindsey Jacobs was among dozens of mourners who yesterday left flowers and written tributes to Sina at a gym he owned in London.

Joshua, known to millions as AJ, had been seen there with him on Saturday, just hours before they flew to Nigeria.

Caterer Lindsey, whose daughter counts the trio as friends, said: "How AJ is going to cope without them I don't know. I don't think he can go on without his two best mates.

"They were best friends. Like family. The three of them were inseparable.

BLOWOUT

"They went everywhere together. He relied on them for everything."

"I don't think he's going to cope with this. It's like both his arms have been cut off."

Well-wishers from the boxing world, including rival Tyson Fury, were among those to send him messages of support.

Fury, 37, whose proposed €115million super-fight with Joshua later this year is now in doubt, added: "This is so sad. May God give them a good bed in heaven."