Concerns are mounting that Anthony Joshua’s injuries from a devastating car crash in Nigeria may be significantly more severe than authorities have acknowledged, with sources close to the boxer suggesting potential rib and knee damage that could derail his anticipated £100million showdown with Tyson Fury.
The former two-time heavyweight world champion was travelling in a black Lexus SUV when it collided with a stationary lorry on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Makun on Monday.
Nigerian police initially described the 36-year-old’s injuries as “minor” and confirmed he remained in a stable condition.
However, according to the Daily Mail, individuals within Joshua’s inner circle have expressed fears that the true extent of his injuries has been understated by officials, casting serious doubt over the blockbuster Fury bout scheduled for next year.
The collision claimed the lives of two of Joshua’s long-standing friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele, whose deaths were confirmed on Monday evening.
Two other passengers in the vehicle emerged from the wreckage without injury.
Footage captured at the scene showed the boxer visibly distressed and wincing in pain as bystanders assisted him from the destroyed car before transferring him to a police vehicle.
Concerns are mounting that Anthony Joshua’s injuries from a devastating car crash in Nigeria may be significantly more severe than authorities have acknowledged, with sources close to the boxer suggesting potential rib and knee damage that could derail his anticipated £100million showdown with Tyson Fury
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The Lexus was completely wrecked in the impact, with photographs revealing doors torn away and the roof crushed out of position.
Joshua had been seated in the rear of the vehicle, directly behind the driver, when the car struck the truck approximately 30 miles north-west of Lagos, near the area where he attended boarding school as a child.
A spokesman for Joshua released a statement expressing “the deepest and most profound sadness” at the deaths, describing both men as “close friends and integral members of Anthony’s team.”
Anthony Joshua appeared dazed in video footage that emerged on social media after his car crash | X
The statement confirmed Joshua had been hospitalised for treatment and observation, adding: “Anthony sustained injuries in the accident and was taken to hospital for checks and treatment, he is in a stable condition and will remain there for observation.”
Nigerian officials from Ogun state reported that Joshua and another passenger were transported to a specialist medical facility in Lagos, where clinical assessments determined neither required emergency intervention.
“Anthony Joshua is conscious and has been in communication with his family,” the spokesperson confirmed, noting that a full medical team would continue monitoring both patients closely.
Investigations into the circumstances of the accident have been launched by authorities.
Joshua had been in Nigeria visiting family during a week-long break following his victory over Jake Paul in Miami just ten days before the crash.
Anthony Joshua recently beat Jake Paul in Miami, Florida | GETTY
The boxer had intended to resume training for a potential March bout in Saudi Arabia against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven, which would have served as preparation for his proposed meeting with Fury in September or October.
Given the uncertain extent of his injuries, a swift return to the ring now appears highly improbable.
Beyond the physical damage, there remains the significant question of psychological trauma from surviving an accident that killed two people travelling in the same vehicle.
The crash happened less than two weeks after Joshua beat Jake Paul in Miami, with the Briton winning the clash in the sixth round with an emphatic knockout blow.
