British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua was involved in a serious road traffic accident on a major highway between Ogun State and Lagos in Nigeria, local authorities confirmed, , reports Baltimore Chronicle via BBC. According to Nigerian police, the collision resulted in the deaths of two people, while Joshua survived with minor injuries and was taken to hospital for medical evaluation.
Local media reported that the vehicle carrying Joshua collided with a stationary truck on the busy Lagos–Ibadan expressway early on Monday morning. The accident occurred on a section of road known for heavy traffic, particularly during peak travel hours. Police in Ogun State later confirmed the fatalities, though the identities of the deceased have not yet been officially released.
Videos and photographs circulating on social media show the aftermath of the crash, including footage in which the 36-year-old boxer appears attempting to exit a severely damaged vehicle. The images, widely shared online, depict Joshua seated in the back of the car moments after the impact. The exact time and location of when the footage was recorded have not been independently verified.
Joshua had been in Nigeria following his bout against Jake Paul on December 19. Witnesses told local newspaper The Punch that two vehicles, identified as a Lexus SUV and a Mitsubishi Pajero, were involved in the crash. According to one eyewitness, Joshua was seated behind the driver, with another passenger next to him, while a third passenger occupied the front seat. In total, four people were inside the Lexus, and members of Joshua’s security team were traveling in a separate vehicle behind them.
Nigerian police told the BBC that Joshua was transported to hospital shortly after the crash. Authorities stated that he sustained minor injuries and was in stable condition. Initial reports indicating that he was “feeling well” were later supported by official updates from road safety officials.
The circumstances surrounding the two fatalities remain unclear. Police have not yet confirmed which vehicle the victims were traveling in, nor have they released further details about the precise cause of death. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
In a subsequent statement provided to the BBC, Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed that five adult men were involved in the accident. Two of them died at the scene, while two others were reported to have escaped without injury. Joshua, who was seated in the rear of the vehicle, was described as having survived the crash and sustained only minor trauma.
According to updated information from the road safety authorities, the Lexus SUV was believed to have been traveling above the legal speed limit. Officials said the driver lost control of the vehicle while attempting an overtaking maneuver, after which the car struck a truck that had been parked on the roadside.
Photographs released by Nigerian road safety officials show a black SUV with extensive front-end damage, surrounded by police vehicles and emergency responders. Several bystanders can be seen observing the scene, while trucks are visible in the background along the highway.
A relative of Anthony Joshua, who asked not to be named, told the BBC that news of the crash came as a shock to the family. The relative said the family was hoping for Joshua’s swift recovery and expressed condolences for those who lost their lives in the accident. According to the family member, Joshua had been traveling from Lagos to his family home, as he usually visits relatives in Nigeria around the New Year period.
Anthony Joshua, born in 1989, is one of the most prominent figures in modern heavyweight boxing. He competed as an amateur until 2013, winning the ABAE English championship, securing a silver medal at the World Championships, and claiming Olympic gold in the heavyweight division.
After turning professional, Joshua captured his first world heavyweight title in 2016. He successfully defended the IBF title six times and went on to hold the WBA, IBO, and WBO belts. His 2017 victory over Wladimir Klitschko by technical knockout marked the final bout of the Ukrainian champion’s career and transferred multiple world titles to Joshua.
Joshua first lost his titles in 2019 to Andy Ruiz Jr. but regained them later that year in a rematch. He suffered his second career title loss in 2021, when Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defeated him to claim the WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO heavyweight championships. A rematch in 2022 ended with Usyk again winning by judges’ decision.
In December 2025, Usyk reportedly presented Joshua with a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt from a Ukrainian brand as a symbol of mutual respect and support.
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