Former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has been discharged from hospital, less than 72 hours after being involved in a serious car crash in Nigeria. The accident, which occurred on a major road near Lagos, resulted in the tragic deaths of two of his close friends.
Joshua, 36, is now recovering at his home in Nigeria. A joint statement from the Lagos and Ogun regional governments confirmed his discharge late on Wednesday.
The boxer was a passenger in the back of a car when it collided with a stationary truck. The crash killed Kevin ‘Latif’ Ayodele, Joshua’s personal trainer, and Sina Ghami, his strength and conditioning coach.
Joshua sustained only minor injuries from the impact. On Wednesday afternoon, he and his mother visited a funeral home to pay their respects to his late friends.
“Anthony Joshua was discharged from hospital late this afternoon though heavy hearted and full of emotions over the loss of his two close friends he was deemed clinically fit to recuperate from home,” the official statement posted on social media platform X read.
The statement also thanked the medical team at Lagoon Hospital Ikoyi for their care, noting, “The quality of care and professionalism is truly commendable.”
Joshua, who has Nigerian heritage, was in the country after recently returning to the boxing ring. On December 19, he scored a knockout victory over YouTube personality-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami, following a 15 month break from the sport.
His promoter, Eddie Hearn, shared a tribute to the men who died. “Rest in peace Latz and Sina,” Hearn wrote on Instagram. “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.”