Boxing superstar Anthony Joshua is lucky to be alive after surviving a deadly car crash in Nigeria that left two people dead — just days after his high-profile victory over Jake Paul.
According to reports, the 36-year-old champion was riding in the backseat of a Lexus SUV when a tire suddenly burst on a highway in Ogun State early Monday morning. Police say the driver lost control and slammed into a parked vehicle, killing two passengers instantly.
Eyewitnesses told local outlet Punch that Joshua’s security team had been following in another car. One of the witnesses said, “There were two vehicles traveling together — the people in Joshua’s car were not so lucky. The person in the passenger seat and the one beside Joshua died on the spot.”
Photos from the scene show a shirtless Joshua looking dazed but conscious inside the wrecked car, surrounded by glass and debris. Nigerian media confirmed he suffered only minor injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
Promoter Eddie Hearn told The Daily Mail, “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’ve seen in the images. We’ll update everyone as soon as we know more.”
The tragic crash comes less than two weeks after Joshua’s explosive Dec. 19 win against Jake Paul in Miami — a fight that saw him break Paul’s jaw and score a sixth-round knockout. The bout marked Joshua’s first victory since 2024, while Paul took his second career loss. Both fighters reportedly earned a staggering $92 million each.
Joshua, a former two-time unified heavyweight world champion and Olympic gold medalist, has deep roots in Nigeria — both his parents were born there. The accident occurred while he was visiting family following his massive pay-per-view triumph.
As fans express relief over his survival, tributes are pouring in for the two victims who lost their lives in the devastating crash.
Source: ESPN, Daily Mail, Punch Nigeria
Leave a Reply