Former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua is receiving treatment in a hospital after being involved in a serious road accident in Nigeria on Monday. The crash, which occurred on a major highway, resulted in the tragic deaths of two other passengers.
Boxing Star Conscious and Stable After Accident
According to official statements from Nigeria’s Ogun State Government and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anthony Joshua is conscious, stable, and has been in contact with his family. The Nigerian-British boxer was swiftly evacuated to a specialised medical facility in Lagos following the incident.
"Following comprehensive clinical assessments, doctors have confirmed that both patients are stable and do not require any emergency medical intervention at this time. A full medical team has been assembled and will continue to monitor them closely," read the government statement. Lanre Ogunlowo, the Ogun state commissioner of police, confirmed to the AP that Joshua is in an undisclosed hospital, though details of his specific injuries were not released.
How the Tragic Crash Unfolded
The accident took place on a key thoroughfare linking Ogun state to Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub. Disturbing photos circulated on social media showed the boxing icon being carefully extracted from the wreckage of his vehicle, visibly in pain.
Preliminary investigations by the FRSC, as explained by spokesperson Olusegun Ogungbemide, indicate that the vehicle was travelling beyond the legal speed limit. It reportedly lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre and collided with a stationary truck parked by the roadside.
The Ogun state government confirmed that "preliminary reports indicate that two male foreign nationals died on the spot." The FRSC's report on social media platform X stated that five adult males were involved: two fatalities, one injured person (Joshua), and two who escaped unhurt.
Joshua's Recent Ring Comeback and Nigerian Roots
This shocking news comes shortly after Joshua's high-profile victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on December 19. That bout was seen as a strategic step for Joshua to regain his sharpness ahead of a planned attempt to reclaim the world heavyweight title he lost to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021. Talks for a potential blockbuster fight against fellow Briton Tyson Fury in 2026 have also been circulating.
Nigeria holds deep personal significance for Joshua, as it is the homeland of his parents. He also attended boarding school there briefly at the age of 11. The boxing world and his fans globally now await further updates on his recovery from this harrowing incident.
