Anthony Joshua, the former two-time heavyweight world champion, is in a stable condition in hospital after a car crash in Nigeria that killed two people close to him, according to his promoter.
Matchroom Boxing said on Monday that Joshua “sustained injuries in the accident and was taken to hospital for checks and treatment” and would “remain there for observation”. The promoter named the victims as Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, describing them as friends and team members who had “tragically passed away”.
Images circulating on social media showed Joshua being pulled from a badly damaged vehicle, visibly in pain.
In a joint statement, the Lagos and Ogun state governments said: “Following thorough clinical evaluations, medical professionals have confirmed that both patients (hospitalized after the accident) are stable and do not require any emergency medical intervention at this time.”
Lagos state information commissioner Gbenga Omotoso confirmed the crash on X, saying emergency services and ambulances were dispatched immediately.
The accident happened at about 11am local time on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, a major highway linking Ogun state to Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub. Nigeria is the country of origin of Joshua’s parents, and the boxer has longstanding ties there.
Ogun State Police said earlier that the Lexus SUV carrying Joshua was involved in a crash “under circumstances that are currently being investigated”. The statement said Joshua, who was sitting in the back seat, suffered minor injuries and was receiving treatment, along with another injured passenger.
According to Olusegun Ogungbemide, spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps, preliminary findings suggest the vehicle was “traveling beyond the legally prescribed speed limit on the corridor, lost control during an overtaking maneuver and crashed into a stationary truck” parked by the roadside.
The Ogun state government said initial reports indicated that “two male foreign nationals died on the spot”.
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