British former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has been injured in a serious road traffic collision in Nigeria that resulted in two fatalities, according to local police.
Details of the Fatal Collision
The accident occurred on Monday 29 December 2025 at around midday local time (11am UK time) on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near Sagamu in Ogun State. The area is approximately 30 miles northeast of Lagos, Nigeria's largest city.
Joshua, 36, was travelling in the back of a black Lexus SUV when the vehicle collided with a stationary truck. Preliminary findings from the Nigerian Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) indicate the Lexus was "suspected to be travelling beyond the legally prescribed limit" and lost control while attempting an overtaking manoeuvre before crashing into the parked truck.
The FRSC stated that excessive speed and wrongful overtaking, the suspected primary causes, "constitute serious traffic violations and remain among the leading causes of fatal road crashes on Nigerian highways."
Casualties and Joshua's Condition
Authorities confirmed that a total of five adult males were involved in the incident. Tragically, two other passengers in the Lexus died at the scene. Their bodies were taken to the Livewell Hospital Morgue in Sagamu.
Anthony Joshua was rescued from the wreckage and sustained what have been described as minor injuries. He was taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment. Ogun State Police Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo confirmed the boxer's hospitalisation but said he had no further information on the nature of the injuries.
One other person was injured in the crash, while two individuals escaped unhurt.
Aftermath and Investigation
Pictures released by the FRSC show the severe damage sustained by the Lexus and the red Sinotruck it hit. Footage circulating on social media appears to show Joshua wincing in pain as he is helped from the damaged vehicle by a crowd, and later being transported in an emergency vehicle wearing only shorts.
The Ogun State Police Command has launched a full investigation into the circumstances of the crash. In a statement, they extended "heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased" and assured the public of a thorough probe.
The crash comes just over a week after Joshua's successful return to the ring, where he knocked out American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in the sixth round in Miami. That fight ended a 14-month hiatus for the boxer, who is slated to face long-time rival Tyson Fury in a major bout in 2026.
Joshua, the son of British-Nigerian parents, spent part of his childhood in Nigeria, attending a boarding school in Ikenne—roughly 50 miles from the crash site—before moving to the UK at age 12.
