Anthony Joshua has paid tribute to two close friends who were killed in a road crash in Nigeria, as the British-Nigerian boxing star continues his recovery at home.
Joshua was discharged from hospital days after the accident, which occurred on Monday on a major highway near Lagos. Regional authorities in Lagos and Ogun states confirmed that the former world heavyweight champion is recuperating privately, surrounded by family.
The 36-year-old boxer was travelling in the back of a black SUV when it struck a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near Sagamu. Two of his close associates, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, died in the crash. Joshua survived with minor injuries, police said.
On Wednesday, Joshua and his mother visited a funeral home to pay their respects ahead of the repatriation of the bodies to the UK. In a statement shared on X, regional officials said the boxer was “heavy hearted and full of emotions” but deemed fit to continue his recovery from home.
The statement also praised medical staff at Lagoon Hospital Ikoyi for their care and professionalism in treating Joshua and others injured in the crash.
Federal Road Safety Corps officials said preliminary findings suggest excessive speed and wrongful overtaking may have caused the accident, noting these remain leading causes of fatal crashes on Nigerian highways.
Joshua, who was born in Watford to Nigerian parents, had been holidaying in Nigeria following his victory over Jake Paul in Miami last month. A close friend described the boxer as traumatised by the loss, saying one of the victims was “more like a twin brother” to him.
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