Heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua escapes serious injury in fatal car crash

LAGOS, Nigeria 

Former two-time heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua was on Monday involved in a severe road collision on one of Nigeria's most congested highways, resulting in the deaths of two individuals.

The incident took place around 11am local time on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Sagamu Interchange in Ogun State's Makun area.

Authorities report that the Lexus SUV in which Joshua was a rear-seat passenger struck a stationary truck.

Emergency teams from the Federal Road Safety Corps arrived quickly at the scene

According to police statements and eyewitness accounts cited by local media, including Punch newspaper, two occupants in Joshua's vehicle perished at the site.

His driver, according to the witness and first responders, survived.

The 36-year-old British-Nigerian fighter, who has deep family roots in the region, suffered only minor injuries.

He was promptly extracted from the damaged vehicle, appeared conscious in circulating footage, and was transported to a hospital for observation and treatment.

Investigations into the crash's cause are ongoing, with officials examining factors common to Nigerian highways, such as speed and overtaking maneuvers.

Joshua had been in Nigeria reconnecting with his heritage following his decisive sixth-round knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami on December 19, 2025.

The win marked a strong return for the boxer after a previous setback.

His promoter Eddie Hearn told Daily Mail that he was awoke to the news.

“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,” Hearn said.