Anthony Joshua Released from Hospital After Fatal Accident

ABUJA, Nigeria — British boxer Anthony Joshua was released from the hospital, as announced by Nigerian officials late Wednesday night.

The former two-time heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist was involved in a tragic road accident near Lagos on Monday, which resulted in the deaths of two of his team members.

His promoter, Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, stated on Monday that Joshua was under observation at Lagoon Hospital in Lagos, where he was being treated for minor injuries.

Lagos State Information Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso shared on X that Joshua was deemed fit to continue his recovery at home and was discharged later that day. He mentioned that both Joshua and his mother visited a funeral home in Lagos to honor their two friends who died in the crash, as plans for repatriation were scheduled for that evening.

Sheena Gami and Latif “Rats” Ayodele, who perished in the accident, were close associates of Joshua; Gami had been his strength and conditioning coach whereas Ayodele served as his trainer. It’s actually quite poignant that just hours before the incident, they had shared a social media clip of themselves playing table tennis together.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hearn expressed his condolences for the losses, sharing on Instagram, “Rest in Peace Latz and Sheena. Your energy and loyalty will be sincerely missed. I wish strength and support to their families, friends, and, of course, all of AJ during this incredibly challenging time.”

The accident took place around 11 a.m. on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a key route linking Ogun State and the economic hub of Nigeria, Lagos.

In unsettling footage that circulated on social media, Joshua was seen visibly distressed as he was extricated from the mangled vehicle. It’s worth noting that Nigeria is where Joshua’s parents hail from.

This incident has sparked renewed discussions around road safety in Nigeria, a country where traffic incidents are unfortunately widespread. The Federal Road Safety Corps reported 5,421 fatalities in 9,570 road accidents throughout 2024, a troubling increase of 340 deaths from the previous year.

Interestingly, just ten days prior to this accident, Joshua had delivered a knockout to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a Netflix-sponsored match in Miami, aimed at boosting his fitness for future title challenges.