Anthony Joshua Hospitalized After Deadly Car Crash in Nigeria
A tragic accident in Nigeria has left boxing superstar Anthony Joshua hospitalized in stable condition following a car crash that claimed the lives of two of his close friends and team members. The incident occured Monday on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a major thoroughfare linking Ogun state to Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital.
The promoter for Matchroom Boxing, Eddie Hearn, announced via X (formerly Twitter) that Joshua “sustained injuries in the accident and was taken to hospital for checks and treatment” and would “remain there for observation.” The two deceased have been identified as Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Photos circulating on social media depict Joshua being carefully extracted from the wreckage of the vehicle, visibly in pain.
A joint statement released by the Lagos and Ogun state governments confirmed that both hospitalized patients are currently stable and do not require immediate emergency intervention. The lagos State Commissioner for Details,Gbenga Omotoso,also confirmed the accident on X,stating that ambulances were dispatched to the scene.
preliminary investigations, as reported by Ogun State Police Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo to ESPN, suggest a burst tire on Joshua’s Lexus SUV caused the driver to lose control, resulting in a collision with a stationary truck. Olusegun Ogungbemide, spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps, indicated that the vehicle may have been exceeding the legally prescribed speed limit and lost control during an overtaking maneuver.
Joshua, whose parents hail from Nigeria, recently competed on December 19th, securing a sixth-round knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami. This bout was intended to sharpen his skills after losing the world heavyweight title to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021. Paul himself responded to the news on X, stating, “Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.”
The gravity of the situation prompted a direct response from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who spoke with Joshua while he was hospitalized. “I spoke with AJ on the phone to personally convey my condolences over the death of his two associates,” the president shared on X. “I wished him a full and speedy recovery and prayed with him. AJ assured me he is receiving the best possible care. I also spoke with his mother and prayed for her. She was deeply appreciative of the call.”
Hearn, who was on a family holiday, relayed that initial reports suggest Joshua is “OK from what I have seen in the images,” but refrained from speculating on the extent of his injuries. Joshua has a personal connection to Nigeria, having attended boarding school there at age 11 and returning in 2019 ahead of his fight against Andy Ruiz Jr.he is currently in discussions for a potential bout with fellow British boxer Tyson Fury in 2026.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash remains ongoing.
