Polices new theory behind Anthony Joshua crash | Boxing News

Police suspect that the devastating crash, which killed two members of Anthony Joshua’s staff and injured the heavyweight boxer himself, was triggered by a tyre blowout “due to excessive speed”. The former world champion, 36, was travelling as a passenger in a Lexus SUV when it collided with a stationary lorry on a main expressway in Ogun State, close to Lagos, Nigeria, at roughly 11.00am on Monday.

Joshua’s close associates and staff members Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, both 36, tragically misplaced their lives in the collision, his promoter Matchroom Boxing confirmed. They said that Joshua stays in a secure condition in hospital, where he was admitted for “checks and treatment” and continues to be monitored.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Nigeria had initially indicated that the Lexus was believed to have been exceeding the velocity restrict and crashed while making an attempt to overtake.

But Police Commander Babatunde Akinbiyi, from Nigeria’s Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), has now revealed preliminary investigations point out the Lexus was travelling along the motorway from Lagos to Sagamu when it “experienced a tyre burst due to excessive speed” before it “lost control”.

Akinbiyi confirmed Joshua and the motive force have been pulled from the wreckage and transported to a hospital in Sagamu for medical care. The two remaining passengers, Ghami and Ayodele, have been declared lifeless at the scene, Akinbiyi added.

Ogun State Police Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo told ESPN: “The accident happened as a result of a burst tyre on AJ’s vehicle, which caused the driver to lose control and the vehicle to swerve into the stationary lorry parked along the road.”

Matchroom expressed in a assertion: “Our deepest condolences and prayers are with the families and friends of all those affected – and we ask that their privacy is respected at this incredibly difficult time.”

Eddie Hearn, the group’s chairman and Joshua’s promoter, paid tribute to the “two great men” who have been killed in the crash. He said: “Rest in eternal peace Sina and Latz. My thoughts and deepest prayers are with everyone.”

Boxing skilled Steve Bunce referred to Mr Ghami and Mr Ayodele as “two of Joshua’s closest friends” and as “massive parts of the Anthony Joshua machine”.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “They’ve been with him, if not from the start, at least very early on. Latz is AJ’s personal trainer and Sina is his strength and conditioning man. They are with him all the time.”

Just hours before the crash, Joshua posted a video to Instagram of himself and Ayodele taking part in desk tennis. Ghami had not too long ago posted on social media from Lagos.

A joint assertion from the Ogun and Lagos state governments confirmed Joshua, who was secure and aware, had been in contact with his household. They revealed Joshua “narrowly escaped death” in the crash and there will likely be a “comprehensive investigation” into the incident.

Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed his condolences to the Watford boxer, wishing him a “full and speedy recovery”.

He said in a post on X: “AJ assured me he is receiving the best possible care.”

Joshua, who has familial ties to Sagamu – a city in Ogun State, had been having fun with time with buddies and household in Nigeria following his triumph over American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on December 19.

Paul took to X after the accident, stating: “Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.”

Ghami, who had labored with Joshua on his strength and conditioning for over a decade, was also a co-founder of the London-based fitness center Evolve. The fitness center announced it will shut its doorways on December 30 “as we mourn the loss of our beloved owner”.