British boxer Anthony Joshua injured in Nigeria car crash, two others dead

British boxer Anthony Joshua has been injured, with two others killed, in a car crash near Lagos in Nigeria.

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has been injured in a car crash along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, north-east of Lagos near the Sagamu Interchange.

Five men were in the car when it collided with a stationary truck by the side of the road, officials say.

The Federal Road Safety Corps in Nigeria says the car - a Lexus Jeep - was suspected of travelling over the speed limit and crashing while overtaking.

Two people died in the crash, while Joshua was rescued alive - sustaining minor injuries - and two others escaped unhurt.

Pictures released by the road safety corps show the site of the crash. Officials say police were at the scene within three minutes of being notified of the incident.

One of Joshua's relatives tells the BBC that news of the crash came as a "shock" to the family. "We are hoping for his speedy recovery and also the people who passed away - I pray for the departed to rest in peace," the relative adds.

The boxer was travelling from Lagos to the family home, according to the relative.

Anthony Joshua's car crash comes shortly after his heavyweight victory over YouTube star Jake Paul on 19 December.

Joshua, who had been out of the ring since defeat by Daniel Dubois in September 2024, broke Paul's jaw in two places during the six-round victory in Miami.

The fight earned the 36-year-old Briton a share of a reported £210m purse.

The bout, streamed on Netflix, was criticised by some - given Paul was a relative novice, and smaller than Joshua.

Joshua said he was "not worried" about the integrity of the fight and the "whole point of it" was to "create conversation".

Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua was born in Watford, England, but has often spoken proudly about his Nigerian heritage.

The Joshua family is well known in Sagamu, in south-west Nigeria, and traces its ancestry there across several generations.

His great-grandfather, Daniel Adebambo Joshua, was a wealthy landowner and merchant, who is believed to have taken the Joshua surname after converting to Christianity.

One of the clearest signs of Joshua's pride in his heritage is a tattoo of the African continent on his right shoulder, with Nigeria clearly outlined.

During his fights, the Nigerian flag is regularly displayed alongside the Union Jack in the ring, including after his victory against Jake Paul earlier in the month.

In Ogun, where Joshua is a sports ambassador, there are plans to build a new indoor boxing venue named after the former heavyweight world champion.