ANTHONY JOSHUA "SCREAMING IN PAIN" AS FATAL LEXUS WRECK KILLS TWO CLOSE FRIENDS
Heavyweight Anthony Joshua is stable in a Lagos hospital after a fatal Lexus crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway killed two friends.
After a brutal car wreck in Nigeria that killed two of his buddies, Anthony Joshua reportedly cried out in pain. He's spending New Year's Eve in a fancy Nigerian hospital.
Joshua, the champ, was riding in a black Lexus that crashed into a parked truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Makun, Nigeria.
Sadly, two of his longtime friends, Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele, didn't make it. Two other people in the car survived.
Sources close to Joshua say he'll be in the hospital for at least a couple more days. Insiders say he was screaming in pain as they pulled him from the wrecked car.
Someone at the scene caught footage of the boxer grimacing before he was put in a police car.
After the crash, Joshua was rushed to Duchess International Hospital in Lagos, which is considered the best private hospital in Nigeria.
Local police told Daily Mail Sport that Joshua is stable with only minor injuries, but there's worry that they could be worse than people are saying.
Police say the car crash happened because of a tyre blowout that made Joshua's Lexus spin out of control.
The Telegraph says traffic police think the car was going too fast (over 50 mph) and lost control while trying to pass another car on a road that locals say is super dangerous.
Babatunde Akinbiyi, a police commander, said the car's tyre blew out because it was going way too fast.
An eyewitness told the Punch newspaper, "There were two cars: a Lexus SUV and a Pajero SUV."
Joshua was sitting behind the driver, with someone else next to him. Another person was sitting next to the driver, so there were four people in the Lexus that crashed. His security was in the car behind them.
Other people and I helped rescue them and flagged down cars to help. A few minutes later, the Federal Road Safety Corps showed up.
Nigeria's president said that Joshua's mom, Yeta Odusanya, rushed to the hospital to be with him after she heard about the crash.
The hospital has a fancy service called the Harley Street Practice on the sixth floor, with Royal Suites for VIP patients.
Patients get personal care around the clock and access to medical and hospitality staff. They also get gourmet meals made just for them.
The basic Royal Suite with a bathroom starts at £2,000.
Joshua's representative put out a statement confirming the deaths of his two team members and close friends:
It's with deep sadness that we have to say that Sina Ghami and Kevin Lateef Ayodele died in a car accident in Lagos, Nigeria, earlier today.
They were close friends and important members of Anthony's team.
Please give their families space and privacy as they deal with this shocking news.
Anthony was hurt in the accident and taken to the hospital for checks and treatment. He's stable and will stay there for observation.
We won't be sharing any more information right now.
Joshua's rival, Tyson Fury, honoured the two men who died in the crash in an Instagram post:
"This is so sad," wrote Fury. May God give them a good place in heaven.
The crash happened at midday, just 10 days after Joshua beat Jake Paul in Miami.
The Daily Mail said that Joshua was visiting family in Nigeria for a week before starting training for a fight in late March, probably in Saudi Arabia against Rico Verhoeven, before a possible fight with Fury in September or October.
Even though we don't know exactly how badly Joshua is hurt, it's not likely he'll be ready to fight soon. There's also the emotional stuff he'll have to deal with after the accident that killed two other people in the car.
THE EIGHT-FIGURE GAMBLE: CONOR BENN SIGNS A MASSIVE ONE-FIGHT DEAL WITH ZUFFA BOXING
Conor Benn joins Zuffa Boxing! Discover why he left Eddie Hearn, the details of his 8-figure deal, and Dana White's global plans.
Zuffa Boxing just landed one of the top welterweights out there, Conor Benn. The up-and-coming promotion announced Benn’s signing, adding even more star power to its growing roster.
Benn, 29, is riding high after a huge win over Chris Eubank Jr last November, finally getting his revenge after Eubank handed him his first-ever loss just seven months before. Right now, Benn stands at 24-1, with 14 knockouts. He’s held the WBA Continental Europe Welterweight title, too. There’s no date or opponent set for his Zuffa debut yet, but this is a big move for Dana White and his crew, who are serious about building a roster packed with champions and big names.
“I’m filled with excitement and hunger for what’s ahead with Zuffa Boxing,” Benn said in a press release. “I want the legacy fights, the biggest nights, the biggest stages. I fear no man at any weight, and I’m ready to give the fans the fights they’ve been calling for. I’m in my prime, and together we have bold, ambitious plans.”
Dana White is just as fired up. “Conor Benn is an absolute beast and a superstar,” he said. “He shows up every time and destroys people, and now some of the best fighters in the world are calling him out. He’s ready for a world title next, and I can’t wait to see him compete in Zuffa Boxing. He’s going to be a huge addition to a growing stable of very talented boxers.”
Sports Illustrated reports that Benn’s contract is a one-fight, eight-figure deal, though neither White nor Benn has confirmed that.
This move also heats the ongoing rivalry between Dana White and Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn. Benn had been with Hearn ever since he turned pro in 2016, but now he’s switched sides. Earlier this year, White and his team also grabbed IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champ Jai Opetaia, another former Hearn fighter.
Lately, Hearn and White have been trading shots in the media, which is wild considering they used to get along before White jumped into boxing. With two big signings already in the bag, Zuffa is out to prove it means business. And you just know they’re not stopping here.
CRIS CYBORG EYES HISTORY: MMA LEGEND SET FOR WIBA WORLD TITLE BOXING MATCH ON MARCH 28
Cris Cyborg makes history! Discover how she plans to hold MMA and boxing world titles simultaneously on March 28 in Brazil.
Cris Cyborg is about to chase a slice of history on March 28.
Since leaving the UFC back in 2019, the former featherweight champ hasn’t slowed down one bit. She grabbed the Bellator 145-pound title, then picked up another belt in the Professional Fighters League. It’s like every time she shows up somewhere new, she leaves with gold.
Now, in 2026, Cyborg says she’s on her retirement tour. But she’s not just coasting to the finish line; she’s still looking to add something big to her legacy. This time, she’s stepping into a boxing ring, not an MMA cage.
It’s been a while since Cyborg lost a fight. That was back at UFC 232 against Amanda Nunes. Since then? She’s rattled off nine straight wins in MMA, but that’s only half the story. She started boxing in 2022, and she hasn’t lost there either: seven wins, no defeats.
On March 28, Cyborg gets her biggest boxing test yet. She’ll fight Paulina Cardona for the WIBA super welterweight belt. Winning would make her the first fighter ever to hold world titles in both MMA and boxing at the same time. Big names like Amanda Serrano and Holly Holm have held this belt before, so it’s not just any title.
Journalist James Lynch broke the news online and pointed out just how rare this accomplishment would be. If Cyborg pulls it off, she’ll stamp her name in the record books, plain and simple.
Let’s talk about her opponent. Cardona’s been in the ring a lot – 68 pro fights, to be exact – but her record isn’t exactly stellar. She’s 27-34-7, has been knocked out 15 times, and has only managed two wins in her last 14 outings. So, yeah, Cyborg’s the clear favourite here, and people are already raising eyebrows about the level of competition she’s been facing in boxing.
Still, history’s on the line in Curitiba, Brazil. All eyes are on Cyborg to see if she can pull off something no one else has done before.