Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua was injured Monday in a car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends and coaches, authorities and local reports said.
The accident occurred around 11 a.m. on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near Sagamu in Ogun State when the Lexus SUV carrying Joshua and three others lost control and collided with a stationary truck. Officials cited a possible burst tire as the cause, though some reports suggested the vehicle may have been speeding while attempting to overtake another car.
Joshua, 36, who was seated in the rear of the vehicle, sustained minor injuries and was taken to a specialist medical facility in Lagos, where he remains in stable condition and conscious. The driver also survived, but the two passengers on the impacted side of the SUV died at the scene.
The deceased were identified as Sina Ghami, Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, and Latz, his personal trainer. Both were described as longtime friends and key members of Joshua’s training team. Ghami had recently worked with Joshua in preparation for his Dec. 19 victory over social media star-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. They had traveled to Nigeria to spend Christmas and New Year’s with Joshua and his family.
Officials say Anthony Joshua is conscious, stable and in touch with family after the fatal crash in Nigeria.
Local reports now name his coaches, Sina Ghami and Latz, as the two people killed, though authorities have not confirmed their identities. #AnthonyJoshua pic.twitter.com/43h1gzgsQ8
— BPI News (@BPINewsOrg) December 29, 2025
Video footage circulating on social media showed a dazed Joshua grimacing in pain as a crowd of onlookers helped pull him from the wreckage. Separate graphic videos purportedly depicting the deceased sparked outrage online, with users criticizing the insensitivity of sharing such content.
Just look at the terrible state of Nigeria.
After a major accident reportedly involving Anthony Joshua, where two lives were lost, there was no visible emergency response; no ambulance, no proper medical care. Instead, he was made to sit upright in the front of a police van… pic.twitter.com/pQKoJzbJYv
— INKWAKUZI (@inkwakuzi_) December 29, 2025
Joshua, a British-Nigerian boxer and two-time unified heavyweight champion, was in his home country following the high-profile win over Paul, which marked his return to form after previous losses. Paul expressed support on social media, writing, “Praying for AJ and everyone involved. Life is precious.”
Ogun State police are investigating the crash, with a focus on road conditions and vehicle speed. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a major artery connecting Nigeria’s commercial capital to other regions, has a history of deadly accidents due to poor maintenance and heavy traffic.
Tributes poured in on social media for Ghami and Latz, with fans and fellow athletes highlighting their roles in Joshua’s career. “Devastating loss for AJ and the boxing world,” one user posted. “They were more than coaches — they were family.”
Joshua’s management has not yet released a statement, but sources close to the boxer say he is in touch with family and focusing on recovery. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about road safety in Nigeria, where thousands die annually in traffic accidents.
