Shocking images of Anthony Joshua's wrecked Lexus SUV have emerged from a deadly crash in Nigeria, revealing how the boxing champ escaped death by mere inches while two passengers seated right beside him perished. The 36-year-old former heavyweight king suffered only minor bruises after the vehicle smashed into a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, just days after his knockout win over Jake Paul. Harrowing footage and photos circulating online capture the mangled wreckage and Joshua dazed amid shattered glass, underscoring the freak miracle of his survival.
Nightmare on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
The black Lexus SUV carrying Joshua veered out of control around 11 a.m. local time near Sagamu in Ogun State, when a burst tire caused the driver to lose grip and plow into a parked truck. Photos show the front end pulverized, roof crumpled and side panels torn open, with debris scattered across the busy highway known for its hazardous traffic. Joshua, buckled in the back seat behind the driver, was flanked by two others who died at the scene — one next to him and another upfront — while a fourth occupant also survived with injuries.
Eyewitnesses described chaos as Good Samaritans rushed to pull Joshua from the twisted metal, his security convoy arriving moments later to whisk him to an undisclosed hospital. Unverified videos depict the champ topless and wincing in pain amid the wreckage, bloodied but conscious, climbing out with help before limping away.
Inches from tragedy
Close-up shots of the SUV's interior reveal the razor-thin margin of Joshua's escape: the passenger seat beside him caved in fatally, while his rear position offered just enough buffer from the head-on impact. Ogun State Police Commissioner Lanre Ogunlowo confirmed the burst tire as the likely trigger, noting Joshua's "minor injuries" amid an ongoing probe into speed and road conditions. Federal Road Safety Corps spokesperson Olusegun Ogungbemide added the vehicle may have been overtaking at excessive speed, amplifying the crash's ferocity.
Joshua had been holidaying in his ancestral hometown, posting casual table tennis clips on Instagram hours earlier, blissfully unaware of the horror ahead.
Boxing world holds breath
Promoter Eddie Hearn expressed relief after waking to the news, confirming early images showed Joshua "OK" despite the scare, as efforts mounted to reach him directly. The incident, coming fresh off Joshua's Miami triumph over Paul on December 19, sent shockwaves through boxing circles, with fans flooding social media in prayer for the two-time champ's full recovery.
No official statement from Joshua yet, but representatives assured he's under medical care as investigations continue into one of Nigeria's deadliest roads. The mangled SUV photos serve as stark testimony: a split-second swerve spared a global icon, while claiming lives perilously close.
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