Former two-time heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua narrowly escaped death on Monday when the SUV he was traveling in as a passenger collided with a stationary truck on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, Nigeria.

The crash resulted in the deaths of two other occupants in the vehicle, believed to be in the front seats.

Preliminary reports from Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps indicate the SUV was speeding and lost control during an overtaking maneuver, possibly compounded by a tire burst.

Joshua, seated in the back, sustained only minor injuries and was rescued, later transported to a hospital for treatment.

Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene with debris scattered across the roadway, while graphic images and videos circulating on social media showed the boxer wincing in pain as he was helped from the wreckage.

VIDEO : of Anthony Joshua being removed from the car crash he was involved in… 😲😲🙏 pic.twitter.com/5ZDS0hEI4s

— A. Ayofe (@abdullahayofel) December 29, 2025

Anthony Joshua is Lucky to be Alive

Joshua, of Nigerian-British heritage, was visiting family in his ancestral homeland during the holiday season, just ten days after his dominant sixth-round knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

His promoter, Eddie Hearn, expressed relief upon seeing the initial images, stating that Joshua appeared “OK” and awaiting further updates.

“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 have seen in the images,” he said. “We are awaiting more information on what has happened and will update in due course.”

A family relative told reporters the news came as a “shock” and extended prayers for the victims of the crash.

“We are hoping for his speedy recovery and also the people who passed away – I pray for the departed to rest in peace,” the relative told reporters.

Nigerian authorities, including the Ogun State Police, have launched a full investigation into the cause, highlighting excessive speed and improper overtaking as common factors in fatal crashes on the notoriously dangerous expressway.

My heartfelt condolences go to Anthony Joshua and to everyone affected by this devastating accident. It is a painful reminder that tragedy does not discriminate and that loss is felt deeply regardless of status or success.

Nothing diminishes Nigeria’s global standing more than… pic.twitter.com/gl9zm8FgRY

— Megami𝕩er (@djokaymegamixer) December 29, 2025

READ MORE: Nick Kyrgios Tops Aryna Sabalenka in Straight Sets in ‘Battle of the Sexes’

Knocked Out Jake Paul

As the boxing world breathes a sigh of relief for one of its biggest stars, thoughts turn to the families of the victims and hopes for Anthony Joshua’s full recovery.

The former two-time unified champion did the boxing world a favor recently, delivering a decisive statement by knocking out Paul in the sixth round.

After a cautious start, in which Paul used movement to survive the early rounds and avoid Joshua’s power, the Briton began to close the distance, scoring multiple knockdowns in the fifth and sixth rounds before landing a devastating right hand that left Paul unable to continue.

Anthony Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in the 6th round. Broke his jaw with a powerful right hand. There are weight divisions in boxing for a reason and once you are in the ring you don’t play boxing.
pic.twitter.com/7cva7I5jGD

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 20, 2025

That shot resulted in a broken jaw for the American.

The victory, watched by over 33 million viewers globally, reaffirmed Joshua’s elite status while highlighting the class divide between the two. Paul had been feasting on weak opponents who did not specialize in boxing, and/or seriously aged former legends such as Mike Tyson.

Joshua knocked him back to reality.