British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has escaped with minor injuries after being involved in a serious road accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two other people, according to local authorities.
The crash happened on Monday morning at around 11:00am local time on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, one of Nigeria’s busiest highways. Police and road safety officials said the incident occurred near Makun in Ogun State, in the south-western part of the country.
Authorities confirmed that Joshua, 36, was travelling as a passenger in a Lexus SUV at the time of the crash. Police described the vehicle as a Lexus SUV, while Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps referred to it as a Lexus Jeep. The exact circumstances leading up to the accident are still under investigation.
According to preliminary findings released by the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Lexus was suspected to have been travelling above the permitted speed limit. Officials said the vehicle lost control while attempting to overtake another car and subsequently collided with a stationary truck that was parked along the side of the road.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after the crash. Police said Joshua was seated in the rear of the vehicle and suffered only minor injuries. He was taken for medical treatment and was reported to be in stable condition.
Tragically, two other occupants of the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims, pending notification of their families. Officials said further details would be provided once the investigation is complete.
The Ogun State Police Command said inquiries are ongoing to establish the full sequence of events and to determine whether additional factors contributed to the crash. The Federal Road Safety Corps reiterated calls for motorists to obey speed limits and exercise caution, particularly on high-traffic corridors such as the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
Anthony Joshua is one of Britain’s most prominent sports figures and a former unified heavyweight world champion. He rose to international prominence at the 2012 London Olympic Games, where he won a gold medal in the super-heavyweight division, becoming a national star almost overnight.
Following his Olympic success, Joshua turned professional and quickly established himself as a dominant force in heavyweight boxing. He won 24 of his first 25 professional bouts and captured multiple world titles, including the IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO belts. One of his most notable victories came in December 2020, when he stopped Bulgarian challenger Kubrat Pulev in London to retain his heavyweight titles.
Joshua’s career later faced challenges after back-to-back defeats against Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022. Those losses marked a turning point, prompting changes to his training team and approach inside the ring.
Despite those setbacks, Joshua has remained a major draw in global boxing. He recently returned to the spotlight with a high-profile victory over American internet personality-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The bout, which took place in December, attracted massive global attention and was reportedly watched by tens of millions of viewers through streaming platforms.
Joshua’s most recent title opportunity before the Paul fight came in September last year, when he challenged fellow British boxer Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title. Joshua was stopped in the fifth round after a dominant performance from Dubois.
A spokesperson for Joshua was not immediately available for comment following the crash. The boxer has not made a public statement, and officials said his medical condition does not appear to be serious.
The incident has sparked renewed discussion in Nigeria about road safety and enforcement on major highways, particularly those linking large cities. The Lagos–Ibadan Expressway has long been known for heavy traffic and a high number of serious accidents.
As investigations continue, authorities said their focus remains on determining responsibility and ensuring that lessons are learned to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Meanwhile, fans and figures from the boxing world have expressed relief that Joshua survived the crash, while also acknowledging the loss of life that occurred in the incident.
