Boxing star Anthony Joshua survives Lagos-Ibadan highway collision in Nigeria; Police probe crash that killed trainer Latz and coach Sina in Ogun State.
World heavyweight boxing star Anthony Joshua narrowly escaped death on Monday December 29, 2025, after a serious road accident on Nigeria’s busy Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, authorities and witnesses said, in a crash that claimed the lives of two members of his close support team.
The collision occurred late in the morning near the Makun area of Ogun State, a key transit corridor linking Nigeria’s commercial hub, Lagos, with the southwest and northern regions. Witnesses said Joshua was traveling toward Ibadan when his Lexus SUV slammed into a stationary truck under circumstances that remain under investigation.
According to eyewitness accounts, the vehicle was part of a small convoy that included a second SUV carrying security personnel. Four people were inside the Lexus at the time of the crash, with Joshua seated in the rear. He suffered minor injuries and was pulled from the wreckage by bystanders before emergency responders arrived.
Two other occupants of the vehicle died at the scene, witnesses said. They were later identified by multiple reports as members of Joshua’s training team: his personal trainer, known as Latz, and his strength and conditioning coach, Sina. Both were described as close friends and long-time collaborators of the boxer.
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“It was a very serious impact,” one eyewitness said. “People nearby rushed in immediately to help and stopped vehicles to assist before officials arrived.”
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed that its officers responded to the incident, secured the area, and evacuated victims. Ogun State police spokesperson DSP Babaseyi Oluseyi said an investigation had been opened to determine the exact cause of the crash, adding that further details would be released.
While unconfirmed reports cited speed and unsafe overtaking as possible factors, authorities cautioned that conclusions would only follow a full technical review.
News of the deaths sent shockwaves through the global boxing community. Three-division world champion Badou Jack confirmed Latz’s passing in a social media post, expressing shock and offering prayers for his late colleague.
Joshua, a former two-time heavyweight champion and one of boxing’s most recognizable figures, was visiting Nigeria when the accident occurred. His condition was described as stable, and no official statement had been issued by his management team at the time of reporting.
The tragedy has renewed attention on road safety along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, one of Nigeria’s most heavily traveled highways, where crashes involving heavy trucks are frequent despite ongoing infrastructure upgrades.
Africa Today News, New York