British former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua was involved in a car accident in Ogun State that claimed the lives of two of his close friends, Matchroom Boxing confirmed on Monday.
Joshua, 36, sustained minor injuries in the crash, which occurred along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Ogun State Police Command said the vehicle in which he was travelling collided with another car, adding that the cause of the accident was under investigation.
The Federal Road Safety Corps said five men were involved in the incident. According to the agency, Joshua suffered minor injuries, two people lost their lives, while two others escaped unhurt.
Matchroom Boxing, in a statement, confirmed the identities of the deceased as Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, both described as close friends and members of Joshua’s team.
“With profound sadness it has been confirmed two close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, have passed away,” the statement said.
The boxing promotion company added that Joshua was taken to hospital for checks and treatment, noting that he was stable and remained under observation.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed sympathy to Joshua and the families of the victims, describing the incident as a “tragic accident.”
The FRSC said preliminary findings indicated that the vehicle was likely speeding when it lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre and crashed into a stationary truck parked by the roadside.
“The primary causes of the crash being excessive speed and wrongful overtaking constitute serious traffic violations and remain among the leading causes of fatal road crashes on Nigerian highways,” the agency said.
Officials have not disclosed who was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident. Joshua could not immediately be reached for comment.
Joshua, the son of British-Nigerian parents, was born in Britain and attended boarding school in Ikenne, Ogun State, before returning to Britain at the age of 12.
The accident occurred just over a week after he knocked out American social media personality Jake Paul in the sixth round of a bout in Miami. Paul later expressed his condolences in a post, saying he was “praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident”.
Joshua had returned to the ring after a 15-month layoff and is expected to face long-time rival and fellow Briton Tyson Fury in 2026.
