Anthony Joshua injured in car crash in Nigeria that has left two other people dead

British boxer Anthony Joshua is in a "stable" condition after being injured in a car crash that killed two people in Nigeria, authorities say.

The former two-time world heavyweight champion, 36, was travelling in the back of a black Lexus when the SUV hit a stationary truck on a busy highway in Makun, Ogun State.

Joshua, who is the son of ‍British-Nigerian parents, suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment, while two passengers in the vehicle died, according to officials. Another passenger was also injured.

Writing on X, the country's president Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed his "deepest sympathies" to the boxer following the "tragic accident".

He said: "As a sportsman, you have always shown courage, discipline, and unwavering love for our country. These are qualities that have made you a source of national pride."

"I pray for strength, wisdom, and grace for you during this painful period. May God grant you a speedy recovery and repose to the souls of the departed," the leader added.

The Ogun State government said in a statement that "preliminary reports indicate that two male foreign nationals died on the spot".

Joshua and another passenger were taken to a "specialised facility" in the country's largest city, Lagos.

The pair are both in a "stable" condition and "do not require any emergency interventions at this time", according to the governments of Ogun and Lagos States.

They added that Joshua has "since been relating well with his family".

He is on holiday in Africa following his win over US YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami just over a week ago.

The crash happened on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near Sagamu, around 30 miles from Lagos, at about midday local time (11am UK time), according to the Nigerian federal road safety corps (FRSC).

How did the crash happen?

The corps said preliminary findings indicated the Lexus was "suspected to be travelling beyond the legally prescribed limit" and "lost control" while overtaking before crashing into the truck, which was parked by the side of the road.

"The primary causes of the crash being excessive speed and wrongful overtaking constitute serious traffic violations and remain among the leading causes of fatal road crashes on Nigerian highways," the FRSC said on X.

The boxer has Nigerian heritage

Joshua attended a boarding school in Ikenne, around 50 miles from where the crash happened, before returning to ‌Britain at the age of 12.

Pictures released by the FRSC show the badly damaged Lexus that Joshua was travelling in and the red Sinotruck that it collided with.

'Wincing in pain'

Footage posted on social media shows the British ex-world heavyweight champion apparently wincing in pain as he is helped out of the wreckage by a crowd.

Other clips show him in an emergency vehicle, wearing only a pair of shorts, as he is driven away from the scene.

The FRSC said: "Two persons sadly lost their lives, one sustained injuries, while two others escaped unhurt.

"Anthony Joshua was rescued alive and sustained minor injuries."

Investigation under way

Police said in a statement that the two people who died have been taken to Livewell Hospital Morgue, in nearby Sagamu, while the circumstances of the crash are "currently being investigated".

"The Ogun State Police Command extends heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and assures the public that a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident has commenced," a statement said.

The crash happened just days after Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in the sixth round of their 19 December bout.

The fight marked the end of a 14-month hiatus for Joshua, who is expected to fight long-time rival Tyson Fury in 2026.

(c) Sky News 2025: Anthony Joshua injured in car crash in Nigeria that has left two other people dead