Anthony Joshua Involved in Fatal Car Crash in Nigeria
On December 29, 2025, at approximately 11 a.m. local time, a devastating car crash occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Nigeria, involving British boxer Anthony Joshua. The accident resulted in the tragic loss of two lives, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, who were close friends and team members of Joshua. The two-time former world heavyweight boxing champion was hospitalized in stable condition, according to his promoter, Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
Photos shared on social media showed Joshua being extricated from the wrecked vehicle, wincing in pain. A joint statement by the Lagos and Ogun state governments confirmed that both patients hospitalized after the accident, including Joshua, were stable and did not require emergency medical intervention at the time. The Lagos state commissioner for information, Gbenga Omotoso, also confirmed the accident and stated that the government had sent ambulances to the crash site.
Investigation and Cause of the Accident
According to Ogun State Police Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo, the accident occurred when the Lexus SUV, in which Joshua was a passenger, experienced a burst tire, causing the driver to lose control and swerve into a stationary truck parked by the side of the road. Preliminary investigations by the Federal Road Safety Corps indicated that the vehicle was traveling beyond the legally prescribed speed limit and lost control during an overtaking maneuver, resulting in the crash.
Reactions and Support
Joshua’s recent opponent, Jake Paul, expressed his condolences on social media, stating, “Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.” Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, also reached out to Joshua, calling him in the hospital to convey his condolences and wishing him a full and speedy recovery.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, stated that he was “away on a family holiday and awoke to the news of this incident. We don’t want to speculate on how [Joshua] is, but thankfully he appears OK from what I have seen in the images.” Hearn had earlier confirmed that Joshua was in talks to fight fellow Briton Tyson Fury in 2026.
Joshua, who briefly attended boarding school in Nigeria at the age of 11, had returned to the country in 2019 ahead of a fight against Andy Ruiz Jr. The boxing community and fans around the world are sending their support and well-wishes to Joshua and the families of the deceased.
