Anthony Joshua has been hospitalized after sustaining ‘minor injuries’ in a tragic car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two individuals. Reports indicate that the former heavyweight champion was involved in a collision between a Jeep he was traveling in and a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in southwest Nigeria.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, confirmed the incident after being informed while on holiday in the Caribbean. Hearn mentioned that Joshua was safe and en route to the hospital but had limited details to share.
According to a local news source, Joshua, who was seated in the back of the vehicle, suffered minor injuries in the crash. Witnesses described the scene as a two-car convoy involving a Pajero SUV and a Lexus SUV, accompanied by Joshua’s security in a separate vehicle.
Eyewitnesses recounted the sequence of events, stating, “It was a two-vehicle convoy: a Lexus SUV and a Pajero SUV. Joshua was seated behind the driver, with another person beside him. There was also a passenger sitting beside the driver, making four occupants in the Lexus that crashed. His security detail was in the vehicle behind them before the crash. Other eyewitnesses and I assisted in the rescue efforts until the arrival of the Federal Road Safety Corps. Unfortunately, the passenger next to the driver and the individual beside Joshua lost their lives instantly.”
It was reported by The Times that Joshua’s vehicle veered into the truck following a tire blowout, leading to loss of control, prompting the local authorities to launch an investigation into the matter.
Eyewitness images showed Joshua standing after the incident, with local police confirming that the 36-year-old boxer was “fine” despite sustaining minor injuries.
Joshua, who was in Nigeria, had shared moments of playing table tennis with his personal trainer on his Instagram before the accident. The boxer had recently triumphed in an exhibition fight against Jake Paul in Miami, Florida, securing a victory after his previous defeat to Daniel Dubois.
The ongoing rivalry between Joshua and Tyson Fury has sparked speculation about a potential future showdown, with reports suggesting that a fight between the two heavyweight giants could materialize under the guidance of Riyadh Season and His Excellency Turki Alalshikh.
Following his win over Paul, Joshua called out Fury, expressing his eagerness for future challenges. He emphasized, “And if Tyson Fury’s as serious as he thinks he is, and he wants to put down his Twitter fingers and put on some gloves and come and fight one of the realest fighters out there that will take on any challenge, step into the ring with me next.”
Both fighters have engaged in verbal exchanges over the years, teasing fans with the prospect of a monumental clash that has yet to materialize.