Boxing
Ogun, Lagos Governments Give Update on Anthony Joshua Accident as Two Victims Identified
The Governments of Ogun and Lagos States have released a detailed update on the road traffic accident involving world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua and three other passengers along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
The accident, which occurred earlier on Monday, tragically claimed the lives of two passengers. The deceased have been identified as Ayodele Kelvin Olu (36), a Nigerian-British national, and Gami Sina (36), a British citizen.
The British High Commission has formally been notified of the incident and is actively monitoring developments. According to the joint update, officials of the Mission are in direct communication with the hospital and relevant Nigerian authorities. The Deputy High Commissioner also paid a fact-finding visit to the medical facility, where he met with Anthony Joshua and held engagements with government officials.
Families of the deceased have been contacted through the British High Commission, while arrangements are already at an advanced stage to repatriate the bodies to the United Kingdom in line with the wishes of their respective families.
The statement noted that the Governors of Ogun and Lagos States personally took charge of the situation, remaining at the hospital for over seven hours to oversee medical care and coordination. Several key stakeholders were also present to offer professional support, including the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been fully briefed on the incident. The President personally spoke with Anthony Joshua and members of his family by phone, expressing his condolences and sympathies over the tragic loss of lives.
The Ogun and Lagos State Governments reassured the public that Anthony Joshua is receiving the best possible medical care and that his condition continues to be closely monitored by a full medical team.
Authorities said further updates would be provided as necessary on the well-being of the boxing champion and others affected by the accident, while investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash continue.
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Oleksandr Usyk will put his WBC heavyweight title belt on the line against Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, Ring Magazine announced on Friday.
The Ukrainian three-times undisputed champion holds the IBF, WBA and WBC titles after vacating the WBO belt.
The 39-year-old has not boxed since beating Britain’s Daniel Dubois at London’s Wembley Stadium last July.
“I respect his (Verhoeven’s) journey – he’s truly the ‘King of Kickboxing’. But this is boxing – a different game, with its own rules and its own kings,” said Usyk, who has a 24-0 record.
“I’m ready and looking forward to meeting him in the ring. It’s going to be a unique experience for both of us, and I know the fans are excited too. A big night is coming.”
The ‘Glory in Giza’ fight will be streamed live on DAZN.
“I spent 12 years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish,” Verhoeven, 36, told The Ring.
“But staying at the top for that long didn’t take away from the hunger; it strengthened it. Usyk is the undisputed champion in boxing. That’s the kind of challenge that motivated me. Undisputed versus undisputed.”
Verhoeven has sparred in the past with former champion Tyson Fury and had one professional bout in 2014, which he won by a knockout.
-Reuters
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Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will face off in a professional rematch at the Sphere in Las Vegas in September, with the bout streaming globally on Netflix, the fighters and promoters announced on Monday.
The fight marks Mayweather’s return from retirement and will be the first professional boxing match held at the Sphere.
Mayweather, who holds a perfect 50-0 record with 27 knockouts, defeated Pacquiao in their 2015 encounter dubbed the “Fight of the Century.”
That bout generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys and a $72 million live gate at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“I already fought and beat Manny once. This time will be the same result,” Mayweather said in a statement.
Pacquiao, whose record stands at 62-8-3 with 39 knockouts, expressed confidence he would hand Mayweather his first professional loss.
“I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him,” the Filipino fighter said.
The rematch will stream to Netflix’s more than 325 million subscribers worldwide, continuing the platform’s push into live boxing.
The streaming platform has recently broadcast several high-profile fights, including Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson, which the company said drew 108 million live global viewers
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Former multi-weight world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather will come out of retirement this year for his first official fight in nearly a decade, his new promotion CSI Sports/Fight Sports said on Friday, though his opponent has yet to be decided.
Before his official return, Mayweather is set for an exhibition bout with fellow boxing great Mike Tyson, with the date and venue still to be announced.
“I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing – from my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards – no one will generate a bigger gate, have a larger global broadcast audience and generate more money with each event – than my events,” Mayweather, 48, said in a statement on his new promotion’s website.
It will mark the American’s fourth comeback from retirement, following previous exits in 2007, 2015 and 2017 — the last after beating Conor McGregor to extend his record to 50-0. He has, however, fought several exhibitions since.
Across a three-decade career, Mayweather defeated many of his era’s top fighters and headlined the three highest‑grossing bouts in history, against Manny Pacquiao, McGregor and Canelo Alvarez.
-Reuters
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