Days After Win, Boxing Champ Hurt in Fatal Crash

Anthony Joshua was in the rear of an SUV that collided with a truck in Nigeria, killing 2 others
Posted Dec 29, 2025 10:16 AM CST
Days After Win, Boxing Champ Hurt in Fatal Crash
Anthony Joshua reacts after defeating Jake Paul in their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Miami.   (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua escaped with minor injuries from a car crash in Nigeria on Monday that left two other occupants dead, just days after his knockout victory over Jake Paul. Local police said the British boxer was riding in the back seat of a Lexus SUV on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near Sagamu, the hometown of his family, when the vehicle collided with a stationary truck around 11am local time. Nigeria's Federal Road Safety Corps indicated the Lexus was driving over the speed limit when it lost control during an "overtaking" maneuver, per the BBC. However, Ogun State Police Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo told ESPN that a blown tire on the SUV caused the driver to lose control and veer into the parked truck.

The BBC, which has a photo of Joshua in the damaged vehicle, notes the expressway receives heavy traffic and is "described by local media as one of Nigeria's deadliest roads." Joshua was taken to a hospital for treatment of what police described as minor injuries. "Early indications are he is OK," a rep told ESPN. "Tragically, two other passengers in the vehicle lost their lives at the scene," said the Ogun State Police Command. Authorities said five males in total were involved, though it's unclear if all were in the SUV. The crash remains under investigation, and police said they will provide further updates. Joshua, who is visiting Africa after stopping Paul in the sixth round of their bout in Miami on Dec. 19, has not spoken publicly about the incident.

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