Anthony Joshua Involved in Fatal Car Accident in Nigeria
Table of Contents
A tragic car accident in Nigeria on Monday, December 29th, has left two people dead and former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua with minor injuries. The incident, which occurred along the busy Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, is currently under investigation by local authorities.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain unclear, but initial reports indicate a potential case of excessive speed. According to police statements, Joshua was a passenger in a Lexus vehicle that “lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre and crashed into a stationary truck.”
Details of the Incident
The accident took place around 11 a.m. in the town of Makun, Ogun state, a region frequently visited by both residents and those returning from the diaspora during the December holiday season. Joshua, a British national of Nigerian heritage, was seated in the rear of the vehicle at the time of the collision. He is currently receiving medical attention for what authorities have described as “minor injuries.”
Images circulating online depict Joshua, appearing shaken, surrounded by shattered glass within the vehicle. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirmed he had learned of the incident while on a family holiday. “We are trying to contact Anthony and in the meantime we don’t want to speculate on how he is but thankfully he appears OK from what I have seen in the images,” Hearn told Daily Mail Sport.
Investigation and Witness Accounts
Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps has indicated that the vehicle was “suspected to be travelling beyond the legally prescribed speed limit.” A witness, identified as Adeniyi Orojo, told Punch News that Joshua was traveling in a two-vehicle convoy. “The passenger beside the driver and the person beside Joshua died on the spot,” Orojo stated.
Police have corroborated this account, confirming that two passengers in the vehicle lost their lives at the scene. The identities of the deceased have not yet been released, but a spokesman for the Ogun state governor indicated preliminary reports suggest they were “two male foreign nationals.”
Recent Boxing Career and Future Prospects
The incident comes shortly after Joshua’s victory over Jake Paul on December 2nd in Miami, a bout backed by Netflix. The former Olympic champion has been linked to a potential future fight against fellow British boxer Tyson Fury. His previous fight, prior to the Paul match, resulted in a fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September of last year.
The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge in the coming days. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of reckless driving and the importance of road safety, particularly during peak travel periods.
