The boxing world has been left holding its breath on Monday, December 29, 2025, after news broke that heavyweight superstar Anthony Joshua had been involved in a devastating road accident in south-western Nigeria.
The crash, which happened around late morning near the Makun stretch of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, turned deadly for others in the vehicle but ended in a narrow escape for one of sport’s biggest names.
Joshua was travelling in the back seat of a Lexus SUV as part of a small convoy when the vehicle reportedly lost control while overtaking and slammed into a stationary truck on the busy highway. Within seconds, what began as a routine journey turned deadly, with twisted metal, shattered glass and a stunned crowd gathering around the wreckage.
Emergency teams rushed to the scene and began pulling survivors from the damaged vehicle. Joshua was seen being helped out, shaken but conscious with a lot of pain from videos that have surfaced online, and later taken to a hospital for treatment. Medical officials say the former world champion suffered minor injuries and remains under observation.
For two others in the car, however, there was no such relief. They were pronounced dead at the scene, a heartbreaking outcome that has cast a shadow over what was meant to be a celebratory visit to the country.
The timing of the incident made it even more surreal. Only ten days earlier, on December 19 in Miami, Joshua had delivered one of the most talked-about moments of the year by knocking out Jake Paul in the sixth round, reclaiming his place in the global spotlight and reigniting talk of blockbuster fights ahead. What should have been a victory lap quickly turned into a brush with mortality.
Joshua, who has strong family ties to Nigeria, had returned to the country following the fight to reconnect with relatives and unwind. Instead, he has found himself in a hospital bed, lucky to be alive while mourning those who did not survive the crash.
Authorities have launched a full investigation into what caused the collision, with early indications pointing to speed and overtaking on the crowded highway as major factors. The Lagos–Ibadan Expressway is notorious for heavy traffic and frequent accidents, making the tragedy a grim reminder of the dangers that come with Nigeria’s busiest road corridors.
As messages of support pour in from fans, fellow athletes and public figures across the world, the mood remains mixed, relief that Joshua survived, and sorrow for the families who lost loved ones in the same incident.
For a man used to facing danger inside the ring, this was a fight he never expected and one he narrowly won.
