ABUJA, Nigeria — British boxer Anthony Joshua has been released from the hospital following a car accident that tragically claimed the lives of two of his close associates. As reported by Nigerian authorities late Wednesday night, the two-time former heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist had been hospitalized at Lagoon Hospital in Lagos after sustaining minor injuries in the crash that occurred on Monday.
The Lagos state commissioner for information, Gbenga Omotoso, confirmed that Joshua was discharged after being deemed clinically fit to continue his recovery at home. Earlier on Wednesday, he and his mother visited a funeral home in Lagos to pay their respects to his fallen friends, strength and conditioning coach Sina Ghami and trainer Latif “Latz” Ayodele, who lost their lives in the accident.
According to reports, the crash took place around 11 a.m. local time on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when the vehicle carrying Joshua collided with a stationary truck. Just hours before the tragedy, Joshua and Ayodele were seen enjoying a friendly game of table tennis together in videos shared on social media.
Promoter Eddie Hearn expressed his condolences on Instagram, honoring Ghami and Ayodele’s contributions and alluding to the deep loss their families and friends are experiencing, including Joshua. Hearn said, “Rest in peace Latz and Sina. Your energy and loyalty among so many other great qualities will be deeply missed. Praying for strength and guidance for all their family, friends and of course AJ during this very difficult time.”
This incident has reignited discussions about road safety in Nigeria, a country that has faced ongoing challenges related to traffic accidents. In 2024 alone, there were reported 5,421 fatalities from 9,570 road accidents, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps, which indicates a troubling increase from previous years.
Joshua, who recently enjoyed victory in a fight against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, is known for his resilience both in and out of the ring. As he navigates this personal tragedy, his focus on recovery and future endeavors in boxing offers a hopeful path forward amid a difficult time for him and his supporters.