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Updated December 30, 2025 — 7.13am
Lagos, Nigeria: Anthony Joshua, the British boxer and former world heavyweight champion, has “narrowly escaped death” and is in hospital with minor injuries after a car accident that killed two other passengers in Nigeria.
The Lagos state commissioner for information, Gbenga Omotoso, confirmed the accident in a post on X, adding that the government had sent ambulances to the crash site.
The crash occurred on a major thoroughfare, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that links Ogun state to Lagos, the country’s economic capital, at about 11am local time. Nigeria is the homeland of Joshua’s parents.
“The vehicle conveying Mr Joshua, a Lexus SUV, was involved in the accident under circumstances that are currently being investigated,” Ogun State Police said in a statement. Joshua, seated in the rear of the vehicle, sustained minor injuries and is receiving medical attention with another injured person.
According to a statement by Olusegun Ogungbemide, spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps, preliminary investigations indicated the vehicle was “travelling beyond the legally prescribed speed limit on the corridor, lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre and crashed into a stationary truck,” which was by the side of the road.
The Ogun state government said that “preliminary reports indicate that two male foreign nationals died on the spot.” AP has not been able to independently verify their identities.
Anthony Joshua celebrates victory over Jake Paul in their heavyweight bout in Miami last week.Credit: Getty Images
“The Ogun state government has expressed profound condolences to the families, friends and associates of the victims of a tragic road accident involving world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, who narrowly escaped death on Monday,” an Ogun state government spokesman said.
“Our hearts go out to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in this tragic incident, which the state considers a devastating loss.”
Joshua beat YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on December 19 in a bout in Miami, which he was using to regain sharpness in the ring. He lost the world heavyweight title in 2021 to Oleksandr Usyk.
“Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident,” Paul said on Monday.
Shattered glass and other debris at the scene of the accident site in Nigeria.Credit: Getty Images
Photos on social media show Joshua being extricated from a wrecked vehicle while he was wincing in pain.
“Anthony Joshua is in an undisclosed hospital being treated for his injuries,” Lanre Ogunlowo, the commissioner of police for Ogun state, told the AP. He said he had no further information on the injuries.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn told Daily Mail Sport he was attempting to find out the extent of Joshua’s injuries, saying: “I am away on a family holiday and awoke 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, but thankfully he appears OK from what I have seen in the images.”
Anthony Joshua punches Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match in Miami.Credit: AP
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, ahead of a fight against Andy Ruiz Jr.
Joshua has been in talks to fight fellow Briton Tyson Fury in 2026.
AP
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