Tyson Fury offers condolences to victims of Anthony Joshua’s car crash

LONDON: Tyson Fury has offered his condolences after a car crash in Nigeria which killed two members of Anthony Joshua’s team and injured his compatriot, a former world heavyweight boxing champion.

Joshua was involved in the accident, which occurred on Monday morning on a main road linking Lagos to Ibadan, in the southwest of the country.

His promoter said the boxer’s “close friends and team members”, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, were killed and Joshua himself was taken to hospital “for checks and treatment”.

Fury, who reportedly called off his retirement to face Joshua in a ‘Battle of Britain’ mega-fight in 2026, wrote on his Instagram page: “This is so sad. May God give them a good bed in heaven.”

Minutes earlier, the so-called “Gypsy King” reignited rumors of a ring return by posting a photo on social media of himself and one of his sons and nephews wearing T-shirts that read: “I’m back.”

Joshua, a British national of Nigerian descent, called out Fury after a sixth-round knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a Netflix-backed fight in Miami earlier this month.

But Monday’s accident will likely further delay a long-awaited fight between former Olympic champion Joshua and Fury, with Paul saying in an

Images circulating online showed a shirtless Joshua – a British national of Nigerian descent – ​​surrounded by what appeared to be broken glass on the seats around him.

“He is in stable condition and will remain there for observation,” specifies a press release from his promoter.

“Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to the families and friends of all those affected – and we ask that their privacy be respected at this incredibly difficult time.”

Police said the accident occurred around 11:00 a.m. local time (10:00 GMT) in Makun town along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The Federal Road Safety Corps of Nigeria (FRSC) said the Lexus Joshua was in “was suspected of traveling above the legally prescribed speed limit on the corridor, lost control during an overtaking maneuver and crashed into a stationary truck…on the side of the road.”

However, a witness who gave his name as Kunle said AFP: “The truck was not stationary when the accident occurred.”

Joshua’s family is from the city in southwest Nigeria and he is known to travel there when he is in the country.

Ayodele, also known as Latz, was Joshua’s personal trainer, while Ghami acted as the 36-year-old’s strength and conditioning coach.

Former world champion Wladimir Klitschko, stopped in the 11th round by Joshua at Wembley Stadium in 2017, wrote on X: “I am deeply saddened to hear about AJ and his close-knit group of friends.

“Having had the pleasure of engaging in an unforgettable battle with AJ, I have always considered him a true class performer who deserves my utmost respect.

“My heart goes out to him and I wish him and his loved ones all the best during this difficult time.”

Published in Dawn, December 31, 2025