British boxing icon Anthony Joshua was left in a state of profound shock, rendered speechless after surviving a devastating car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his closest friends and confidants.
Eyewitness Recalls the Moment of Impact
An eyewitness to the collision, Ajala Yusuf Oluwaseyi, described hearing a loud "boom" on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Monday, 29 December 2025, initially mistaking it for a tyre burst. He soon realised the horrific truth: the Lexus Jeep carrying Joshua had collided with a stationary truck parked on the highway.
Speaking to Sky News, Oluwaseyi said the former two-time world heavyweight champion was visibly shaken by the "deadliness of the incident". "He was shocked, he couldn't talk," the witness revealed, painting a picture of a traumatised Joshua at the scene.
Investigation Points to Speed and Overtaking
Preliminary investigations by Nigeria's Federal Road Safety Corps indicate the vehicle was "travelling beyond the legally prescribed speed limit" and lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre. The Ogun State Police Commissioner offered a slightly different initial cause, suggesting a burst tyre may have led the driver to swerve into the parked truck.
The crash occurred at approximately 11am local time. While Joshua escaped with minor injuries and is in a stable condition, his long-time personal trainer Latif 'Latz' Ayodele and strength and conditioning coach Sina Ghami, both aged 36, tragically lost their lives.
Boxing World Unites in Grief and Tribute
Tributes have poured in from across the globe. Rival heavyweight champion Tyson Fury paid his respects to Joshua's two "close friends", while Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk posted an emotional tribute on Instagram, calling the loss "unbelievable" and describing the victims as "incredible people".
Even recent opponent Jake Paul expressed his condolences on social media, stating he was "praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today's unfortunate accident." The crash happened just over a week after Joshua's knockout victory over Paul in Miami.
John Fury, father of Tyson, also sent a video message of condolence, using the tragedy as a stark reminder about road safety, though he clarified he was not suggesting any wrongdoing by those involved.
Joshua is currently receiving treatment at the Duchess International Hospital in Lagos, with his mother at his bedside. The boxing world now waits, united in support, as the champion recovers from both physical and profound emotional wounds.
