LAGOS/OGUN — British boxer and former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is in stable condition in hospital following a car crash on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway on Monday, which claimed the lives of two passengers travelling with him.
A joint statement by the Lagos and Ogun state governments confirmed that both patients taken to hospital after the accident are stable. Authorities have not disclosed who was driving the vehicle, and investigations into the crash are ongoing.
Fatalities and Team Loss
Matchroom Boxing confirmed that two of Joshua’s close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, died in the accident. Joshua was taken to hospital and remains under observation.
Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho, confirmed the incident via social media, noting that ambulances were dispatched to the scene on the major expressway linking Lagos and Ogun states at around 11 a.m. local time.
According to the Ogun State Police, the Lexus SUV carrying Joshua was involved in a collision “under circumstances that are currently being investigated.” Joshua, seated in the rear, sustained minor injuries.
The Federal Road Safety Corps said preliminary investigations suggest the vehicle was “travelling beyond the legally prescribed speed limit, lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre, and collided with a stationary truck parked by the roadside.”
International Reactions
Joshua, whose parents are Nigerian and who briefly attended boarding school in the country at age 11, had recently beaten YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on 19 December. Paul said on social media:
“Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ, and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.”
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, told Daily Mail Sport that efforts were underway to ascertain the boxer’s condition:
“We are trying to contact Anthony and in the meantime we don’t want to speculate, but thankfully he appears OK from what I have seen in the images.”
Presidential Condolences
President Bola Tinubu confirmed he had spoken with Joshua in hospital, expressing condolences over the death of his associates and wishing him a full and speedy recovery. He also spoke with Joshua’s mother, who he said was “deeply appreciative of the call.”
Current Status
Joshua remains in an undisclosed hospital, receiving treatment for minor injuries. Photos circulating on social media show him being extricated from the wrecked vehicle while wincing in pain.
No further details on the severity of his injuries have been released. Joshua has previously expressed interest in a potential 2026 bout against fellow Briton Tyson Fury.
