Lagos. British boxer and two-time former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua has been released from hospital after a road accident in Nigeria. Nigerian officials confirmed this late on Wednesday night. The accident occurred near Lagos on Monday, killing two of Joshua’s close associates and team members — Sina Ghaemi and Lateef ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
Ghaemi was Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, while Ayodele was his trainer. Anthony Joshua was kept under observation at the Lagoon Hospital in Lagos with minor injuries following the accident. His promoter Eddie Hearn’s company Matchroom Boxing had said that his condition was stable.
Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, released a statement on social media platform
According to Omotoso, “Anthony Joshua and his mother were present at a funeral home in Lagos on Wednesday afternoon, where they paid their last respects to both their late friends. The process of sending the bodies to their respective countries was completed late in the evening.” Just hours before the accident, Joshua and Ayodele had shared a video on social media of them playing table tennis together.
Earlier on Wednesday, Eddie Hearn paid tribute to both those who lost their lives in the accident, writing on Instagram, “Lizz and Cena, rest in peace. Your energy, loyalty and many great qualities will always be remembered. My prayers for their family, friends and AJ during this difficult time.”
The accident occurred at about 11am on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, when the vehicle in which Joshua and his team were traveling collided with a truck parked on the road. In a video viral on social media, Joshua was seen writhing in pain as he was taken out of the damaged vehicle.
It is noteworthy that Nigeria is the native country of Joshua’s parents. After this accident, concerns regarding road safety in Nigeria have once again increased. According to Federal Road Safety Corps data, 5,421 people died in 9,570 road accidents in the country in the year 2024, which is 340 more than in 2023.
It is also worth noting that just 10 days before the accident, Anthony Joshua had knocked out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a match held on Netflix in Miami. He played this match with the aim of preparing for big title matches in the future and improving his fitness.
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