Anthony Joshua was ‘shocked’ and ‘couldn’t talk’ after crash, eyewitness says

The former two-time world heavyweight champion boxer, 36, was taken to hospital for treatment along with another injured person, after the accident that killed two of his friends.

Boxer Anthony Joshua was “shocked” and “couldn’t talk” after a car crash in Nigeria, according to an eyewitness.

Joshua, 36, a former two-time world heavyweight champion, suffered minor injuries as he travelled in the back of a black Lexus that hit a truck in Makun, ⁠Ogun State, about 30 miles from the country’s biggest city, Lagos.

Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, both 36, who were also passengers in the vehicle, died in the accident on the busy highway on Monday.

Mustafa Briggs told Sky News his friend Latif Ayodele was “inspirational”

A man who was nearby when the crash happened said he heard a loud “boom” and thought a truck’s tyre had burst.

Speaking to Sky News, Ajala Yusuf Oluwaseyi said he saw a car drive under a truck that was parked on the highway.

He said after the crash Joshua was “shocked with the deadliness of the incident” and added: “He was shocked, he couldn’t talk.”

Joshua was on holiday in Africa after his win over US YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami just over a week ago.

Police are investigating the cause of the accident and authorities said Joshua was taken to hospital for treatment along with another injured person.

Officials said he is still in a “stable” condition and “receiving appropriate medical attention”.

Joshua’s spokesperson said in a statement Mr Ghami and Mr Ayodele “were close friends and integral members of Anthony’s team”.

One of Mr Ayodele’s best friends, Mustafa Briggs, said his loved ones are “shocked” by his death, as he described him as “one of the most pure-hearted” people.

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Tributes to Joshua crash victims

“This is one of the craziest, toughest days of my life,” he told Sky News, saying his fondest memory was their shared trip to Mecca, while they also visited Nigeria together this time last year.

“Everybody who knew him loved him,” he said. “He lived his life the best way he knew. He was someone who always put his faith first, he was somebody who put prayer as a priority and maintaining a good relationship with everybody he knew.

“He didn’t have a bad intention towards anybody. Everybody will always remember him smiling, laughing, being cheerful, and being an inspirational person.”

Mr Ayodele also said Mr Ghami, who he met through his friend, seemed like an “amazing person”.

How did the crash happen?

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

The FRSC 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 corps said on X.

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

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.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said on X he had “spoken with AJ to personally convey my condolences over the passing of his two close associates”.

“I wished him a full and speedy recovery, and prayed with him. AJ assured me he is receiving the best possible care,” he said.

Joshua’s long-time rival Tyson Fury said in a post on Instagram: “This is so sad may god give them a good bed in heaven.”

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Support from the boxing world

Former heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko, who retired from boxing after he was knocked out by Joshua at Wembley Stadium in 2017, said he was “deeply saddened” by the crash.

“Having had the pleasure of engaging in an unforgettable battle with AJ, I’ve always regarded him as a true class act who commands my utmost respect,” he posted on X.

“My heart goes out to him, and I wish him and his loved ones all the best during this difficult time.”

Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan also wished Joshua a “speedy recovery” and said he was “extremely saddened” to hear about the loss of his “two close boys”.

“May God give their families strength, and may Allah grant them the highest rank in Jannah,” he said on the social media site.

Joshua, who is the son of British-Nigerian parents, attended a boarding school in Ikenne, around 50 miles from where the crash happened, before returning to ‌Britain at the age of 12.