Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will remain in Nigeria to recuperate following a tragic road accident that claimed the lives of two of his close associates.
The Fatal Collision on a Major Highway
On Monday, a vehicle carrying the British boxer and two of his team members crashed into a stationary truck. The incident occurred on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a key route linking Ogun state to Lagos in Nigeria. The two associates travelling with Joshua, identified as his strength and conditioning coach Sina Ghami and trainer Latif “Latz” Ayodele, were both killed in the collision.
Joshua's Release and Tribute to Friends
Joshua was treated for his injuries at a hospital in Lagos and was discharged on Wednesday afternoon. The Lagos state commissioner for information, Gbenga Omotoso, confirmed the boxer had been deemed clinically fit to continue his recovery at “home”. Following his release, Joshua visited a morgue to pay his respects to his deceased friends.
His promoter, Matchroom Boxing, provided an update to The Associated Press on Thursday, stating: “As reported, Anthony was released from hospital last night and will remain in Nigeria over the coming days.”
Deep Ties to Nigeria and a Tragic Irony
The former world champion has deep family roots in Nigeria, holds Nigerian nationality, and briefly attended boarding school there as a child. The crash came just hours after Joshua and Ayodele had shared light-hearted social media clips of themselves playing table tennis together, highlighting the sudden and devastating nature of the loss.
The boxing world now awaits further news on Joshua's physical recovery, while he mourns the profound personal loss of two key members of his team.
