Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is ‘stable’ after 2 die in car accident in Nigeria

Former Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua Hospitalized After Fatal Car Crash in Nigeria

British boxing star Anthony Joshua is in stable condition following a serious car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends and team members, his promoter confirmed Monday.

The two-time former world heavyweight champion sustained injuries when the Lexus SUV carrying him crashed on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a major thoroughfare connecting Ogun state to Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub. The accident occurred around 11 a.m. local time in the homeland of Joshua’s parents.

Matchroom Boxing, led by promoter Eddie Hearn, identified the deceased as Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, both described as Joshua’s close friends and team members. “Anthony sustained injuries in the accident and was taken to hospital for checks and treatment,” the statement read, adding that he would “remain there for observation.”

According to Olusegun Ogungbemide, spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps, preliminary investigations suggested the vehicle was “traveling beyond the legally prescribed speed limit on the corridor, lost control during an overtaking maneuver and crashed into a stationary truck” parked by the roadside.

Social media images showed Joshua being extracted from the wrecked vehicle while visibly in pain. The Ogun state government reported that “two male foreign nationals died on the spot,” while a joint statement from Lagos and Ogun state governments confirmed that Joshua and another hospitalized individual were “stable and do not require any emergency medical intervention at this time.”

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu personally reached out to Joshua during his hospital stay. “I spoke with AJ on the phone to personally convey my condolences over the death of his two associates,” Tinubu wrote on social media. “I wished him a full and speedy recovery, and prayed with him. AJ assured me he is receiving the best possible care.”

Lanre Ogunlowo, Ogun state’s commissioner of police, told the Associated Press that Joshua was “being treated for his injuries” at an undisclosed hospital but provided no further details about his condition.

The accident comes just weeks after Joshua’s victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on December 19 in Miami. The bout was part of Joshua’s strategic campaign to regain momentum in the heavyweight division after losing the world title to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021.

Paul expressed his concern on social media, writing: “Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.”

Joshua has meaningful connections to Nigeria, having briefly attended boarding school there at age 11. In 2019, he made his first return visit in 17 years ahead of his fight against Andy Ruiz Jr. The boxer has proudly acknowledged his Nigerian heritage throughout his professional career.

Before the accident, Joshua had been in discussions for a potential high-profile fight against fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury in 2026, a match-up boxing fans have anticipated for years. This incident casts uncertainty over those plans as Joshua focuses on recovery.

The Lagos state government responded swiftly to the accident, with Commissioner for Information Gbenga Omotoso confirming that ambulances were dispatched to the crash site. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Joshua’s presence in Nigeria highlights the boxer’s ongoing connection to his ancestral homeland. The 34-year-old fighter has built a significant global following during his career, which includes Olympic gold in 2012 and multiple heavyweight championship reigns.

As the boxing world awaits further updates on Joshua’s condition, the tragic loss of his two team members underscores the devastating impact of the accident beyond its effect on the fighter’s career.