Ever since the news of Anthony Joshua being involved in a fatal car crash in Nigeria broke, the boxing world has been holding its breath to find out the extent of his injuries.

The former heavyweight world champion was one of the four people inside the black Lexus Jeep, which crashed into a stationary red commercial Sinotruck near Lagos on Monday, the 29th of December. The driver of the vehicle and Joshua survived, but the two other passengers in the car, Sina Ghami and Kevin “Latif / Latz” Ayodele, both friends of ‘AJ,’ sadly passed away at the scene due to their injuries.

Although this is a situation which is much bigger and more important than boxing, naturally, due to his fame and accomplishments in the sport, fans have been eagerly awaiting an update on what injuries Joshua suffered as a result of the crash.

JUST IN: Canelo Alvarez’s return to face undefeated ‘boogeyman’ for his for

Shortly after the accident happened, there were claims that the Brit initially suffered “minor” injuries, but there are now fears that the damage he sustained is more severe than first thought.

Although it seemed that Joshua had escaped the fatal car crash he was involved in Nigeria with just “minor” injuries, there are now major fears that this may not be the case.

As first reported by the Daily Mail, sources close to Joshua are now saying that the damage he sustained could be “more severe than publicised.” Even though Nigerian authorities have downplayed the amount of damage he suffered, the Brit was visibly in agony right after the crash in footage which was posted online by bystanders.

Specifically, the possibility of injuries to his rib and knee was floated around by members of Joshua’s inner circle, which, of course, wouldn’t be good news for the future of his boxing career. Although no injuries are good injuries, the most important thing is that he is in a stable condition after the fatal crash.

Tributes Have Poured in For Joshua’s Friends Who Passed Away

Eddie Hearn, as well as Anthony Joshua’s most recent opponent, Jake Paul, are among many people to have posted tributes to social media for Sina Ghami and Kevin “Latif / Latz” Ayodele, who were the two fatalities in the car crash.

Hearn, below an official statement from Matchroom Boxing, called Ghami and Ayodele “two great men.”

View this post on Instagram

Paul issued a similar statement to X, formerly known as Twitter, and sent thoughts and prayers to Joshua, as well as the families of the two men who lost their lives in the crash.

Anthony Joshua was involved in a deadly car crash in Nigeria when he was a passenger in a car that ploughed into the back of a stationary truck.

The 36-year-old two-time unified world heavyweight champion suffered ‘minor’ injuries in the crash. But the incident took the lives of two friends he was travelling with in the car – Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele.

The incident happened on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Makun, Nigeria on Monday and videos of the aftermath were taken roadside by onlookers as AJ was helped from the wreckage and taken to hospital, where his condition is said to be ‘stable’.

JUST IN: Anthony Joshua ‘in pain’ as health update emerges after car crash that killed two friends

Joshua was filmed looking dazed as he sat in the back passenger seat behind the driver before he grimaced in agony as he exited the vehicle. The two passengers on the other side of the car were the two who tragically died. While the driver was “relatively unharmed”.

A representative of Joshua issued a statement on Monday confirming the deaths of the boxer’s team members and ‘close friends’.

The spokesman said: “It is with the deepest and most profound sadness that we confirm, following a road traffic accident in Lagos, Nigeria earlier today, the death of Sina Ghami and Kevin “Lateef” Ayodele.

“Both were close friends and integral members of Anthony’s team. We respectfully ask that space and privacy be given to the families at this time while they process this truly shocking and devastating news.

“Anthony sustained injuries in the accident and was taken to hospital for checks and treatment, he is in a stable condition and will remain there for observation. No further information will be made available at this time.”

Despite initial fears over the extent of Joshua’s physical injuries being publicly played down, the Daily Mail reported that sources close to the fighter say they fear the damage could be more severe.

The risk of significant injuries to Joshua’s ribs and knee has been mentioned by an individual in his inner circle. Footage filmed roadside showed AJ climbing out of the vehicle gingerly and grimacing in agony.

Aside from any physical injuries, the mental toll of losing two close friends travelling in the same car as him will be immeasurable.

Joshua’s mum rushed to be by his bedside, where he is reportedly receiving treatment at Duchess International Hospital in Lagos, which is recognised as the country’s best private hospital. AJ has also confirmed to Nigeria’s president Bola Ahmed Tinubu that he is getting the best medical treatment.

According to the Sun, doctors have ruled that the injuries Anthony sustained during the crash were actually not as bad as they had first thought. It has now been revealed that Joshua will remain in hospital for the next couple of days but will be discharged to recover at home.

Police confirmed that a tyre blowout “due to excessive speed” was the cause of Monday’s horror crash.

Initially, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Nigeria suggested that the Jeep may have been speeding and crashed while trying to overtake.

However, Police Commander Babatunde Akinbiyi, from Nigeria’s Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, has now revealed that preliminary investigations indicate the black Lexus Jeep was travelling on the motorway from Lagos to Sagamu when it “experienced a tyre burst due to excessive speed” and subsequently “lost control.”

A heartbroken Anthony Joshua is said to be in pain ‘everywhere’ after suffering injuries in a fatal car crash that killed two of his friends in Nigeria,

it is claimed in The Sun. Joshua is currently in a luxury hospital in Lagos, where he is expected to remain until the New Year after escaping with just injuries.

The former heavyweight champion was said to be doing OK, but as per claims from sources, he has said: “I feel pain all over my body,” amid earlier reports that his injuries were worse than first feared and could impact his boxing career.

READ: Anthony Joshua: What you may not know about two men killed in

The 36-year-old, who is yet to make his first comment since the tragic accident, was travelling in a Lexus Jeep that collided with a stationary truck on the busy highway on Monday morning. Police are said to believe that the horrific car crash was triggered by a tyre blowout “due to excessive speed.”

The same Sun report, meanwhile, claims that Joshua had searing pain in his knees and cried out in agony as he was taken from the wreckage of the Lexus 4×4. However, tests revealed no fractures.

He suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment, while two others in the vehicle died, police confirmed. The two victims have been identified as Kevin Ayodele and Sina Ghami.

They were close companions of Joshua’s and served as key members of his team. Ayodele was the Brit’s personal trainer while Ghami worked as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach for over a decade.

It is said that insiders fear the grief and mental scars from the tragedy could put potential fights next year in doubt. Joshua has been lined up for a long-awaited showdown with his bitter UK rival Tyson Fury, but that fight may not now happen.

The President of Nigeria confirmed on Monday that Joshua’s mother had arrived at the hospital to be with her son. Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed in a statement that he had spoken to both Joshua and his mother in a phone call to the hospital where the British boxer was taken following the accident.

Tinubu, who is currently out of the country, said he had offered his condolences to Joshua following the death of his friends Ghami and Ayodele.

He said: “I spoke with AJ on the phone to personally convey my condolences over the death of his two associates. I wished him well and prayed for him. He assured me that he is receiving the best care in the hospital.

“I also spoke with AJ’s mother and prayed for her. She was very appreciative of my call.

“Additionally, I spoke to Governor Dapo Abiodun, who was in the hospital with them. The Governor assured me that he will do everything possible to ensure AJ receives the best possible attention.”

Eddie Hearn, who is chairman of Joshua’s promotional company Matchroom, was among those to pay tribute to the pair when news of their tragic passing was confirmed.

“With the heaviest of hearts,” he shared in a post on Instagram. “Two great men. Rest in eternal peace Sina and Latz. My thoughts and deepest prayers are with everyone.”

oshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, has also spoken since the tragic news of the accident, revealing that he is yet to locate his nephew after visiting several hospitals.

“We did not know on time that he was involved in an accident, it was really a rude shock to the family because this is not the first time he would be coming to see his family in Sagamu,” he said.

“Anthony Joshua can even come home up to three, four times in a year. We felt so bad because this is the end of the year period which is usually use to rejoice and bond with one another, it is really quite unfortunate.

“The sad news actually jolted Sagamu community and up till now everyone is still in shock. People have kept calling the family members to sympathise with us and get updates

“Since the incident happened, we have been rallying round to see if it is possible to get to see our son but that has been impossible because of his status, we don’t know the hospital he was taken to and we can understand that such is being done to protect him being a world figure.

“However, we have been in touch with his father and mother who are also in Nigeria and they have assured us that Joshua is fine. We are also thinking that it will be fine if they allow even if it just three of the family members to see him, we are all eager to see him but we will still respect the wish of the authority to keep him safe for now.”