Lagos, Nigeria — Anthony Joshua, double former heavyweight champion of the world from Britain, was in stable condition in hospital on Monday after being involved in a car crash in Nigeria that killed two people who were close friends and teammates, his promoter said.
said Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing on X that Joshua “suffered injuries in the accident and was taken to the hospital for examination and treatment” and “will remain there for observation.” He named Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele as the two passengers who “tragically died”.
Photos on social media showed Joshua being freed from the wrecked vehicle as he winced in pain.
“After a thorough clinical assessment, doctors have confirmed that both patients (hospitalized following the accident) are stable and do not require any urgent medical intervention at this time,” a joint statement by the Lagos and Ogun state governments said.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, confirmed the accident contribution to Xwith the government sending ambulances to the crash site.
The accident occurred on a major thoroughfare — the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which links Ogun State to Lagos, the country’s economic capital — at about 11 a.m. local time. Nigeria is the homeland of Joshua’s parents.
The Ogun State Police had earlier said in a statement: “The vehicle carrying Mr. Joshua, a Lexus SUV, was involved in an accident under circumstances that are currently under investigation. Joshua, seated in the rear of the vehicle, sustained minor injuries and is receiving medical treatment with another injured person.”
According to Olusegun Ogungbemide, the spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps, preliminary investigations indicated that the vehicle was “exceeding the legal speed limit on the corridor, lost control during an overtaking maneuver and crashed into a stationary truck” which was on the side of the road.
The Ogun State government said “preliminary reports indicate that two foreign nationals died on the spot”.
“Life is more important than boxing”
Joshua defeated YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul December 19 in a match in Miami that he used to regain his sharpness in the ring. Oleksandr Usyk lost the world heavyweight title in 2021.
“Life is more important than boxing. I pray for the lives lost, AJ and anyone affected by today’s unfortunate accident,” Pavel said on Monday.
Nigerian president calls Joshua
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu called Joshua at the hospital.
“I spoke to AJ on the phone to offer my personal condolences on the deaths of two of his associates,” the president said.
No further details about Joshua’s condition were released.
“Anthony Joshua is in an undisclosed hospital receiving treatment for his injuries,” Lanre Ogunlowo, the Ogun state police commissioner, told the AP. He says he has no further information about the injuries.
Hearn previously told Daily Mail Sport that he “was away on a family holiday and woke up to the news of this incident.
“We are trying to contact Anthony and in the meantime we don’t want to speculate on how he is doing but thankfully he seems fine from what I have seen in the pictures.
Joshua briefly went to boarding school in Nigeria at the age of 11. He returned there for the first time in 17 years in 2019, before a fight against Andy Ruiz Jr.
Joshua has been in talks to fight Britain’s Tyson Fury in 2026.
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