Celebration from a high-profile boxing victory turned into shock and tragedy after star heavyweight Anthony Joshua was injured in a deadly car crash in Nigeria that left two people dead.
According to the New York Post, Joshua, 36, was hospitalized following the accident, which occurred Monday morning on a Nigerian highway, according to multiple reports.
The crash happened less than two weeks after Joshua knocked out Jake Paul during a heavily publicized bout in Miami.
Ogun State Police Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo told ESPN that Joshua was riding in the back seat of a vehicle when a tire burst, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle then slammed into a stationary car on the roadway.
Details surrounding Joshua’s condition remain limited, though those close to him expressed cautious optimism.
“We are trying to contact Anthony, and in the meantime, we don’t want to speculate on how he is, but thankfully, he appears OK from what I have seen in the images,” promoter Eddie Hearn told the Daily Mail.
“We are awaiting more information on what has happened and will update in due course.”
An eyewitness told Punch that Joshua was traveling as part of a two-vehicle convoy at the time of the crash, with his security team following closely behind.
The witness said the impact was catastrophic for others inside the car.
The person seated in the passenger seat and another individual sitting next to Joshua — who was reportedly positioned behind the driver — “died on the spot,” according to the Punch report.
Joshua’s parents are both Nigerian, and the boxer has longstanding ties to the country.
The crash comes shortly after Joshua’s return to the win column in the ring. On Dec. 19, he knocked out Paul in the sixth round of their fight, breaking Paul’s jaw and handing the social media star his second professional loss.
The victory marked Joshua’s first win since 2024.
The bout was also a financial windfall for both fighters, with each reportedly earning $92 million, according to the Daily Mail.
Following the fight, Joshua offered praise for his opponent during a Netflix interview.
“Jake Paul did really well, and he deserves his props,” Joshua said. “It takes a real man to do that, and he deserves respect for trying and trying and trying. But he came up against a real fighter tonight.”
Joshua is a former multiple-time unified heavyweight champion, holding the title from March 2018 through July 2019 and again from December 2019 until September 2021, according to ESPN.
He also won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics and enters his next fight with a 29-4 record, including 26 knockouts, following the win over Paul.
Paul took to social media to send prayers to Joshua and the families of those who lost their lives.
