British former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua was involved in a tragic car accident in Nigeria’s Ogun State, which claimed the lives of two of his close friends, promoter Matchroom Boxing confirmed on Monday.
Joshua, 36, sustained minor injuries when the vehicle he was in collided with another car, according to the Ogun State Police Command, which is investigating the cause of the crash.
Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reported that five men were involved in the accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. While Joshua was lightly injured, two people died and two others escaped unhurt.
Matchroom Boxing confirmed the fatalities, identifying the victims as Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, who were close friends and team members of Joshua. The statement added that Joshua was taken to a hospital for examination and remained stable under observation.
President Bola Tinubu expressed his condolences to Joshua and the families of the victims, describing the incident as a “tragic accident.”
Preliminary FRSC findings suggest that the vehicle was likely speeding and lost control during an overtaking maneuver, crashing into a stationary truck by the roadside. The agency noted that excessive speed and unsafe overtaking are among the leading causes of fatal road accidents in Nigeria. Officials have not disclosed who was driving Joshua’s car.
Joshua, the son of British-Nigerian parents, spent part of his childhood in Nigeria before returning to Britain at age 12. The accident comes just over a week after he knocked out American social media star Jake Paul in Miami. Paul expressed his condolences on X, saying he was “praying for the lost lives, AJ, and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.”
Joshua is expected to return to the ring in 2026 to face long-time rival Tyson Fury after a 15-month layoff.
