Even for a heavyweight used to trading blows in the ring, the past few months have thrown Anthony Joshua a series of unexpected punches – a car crash in Nigeria that left two people dead, a jaw-shattering knockout of Jake Paul, and a regulatory suspension that has more to do with Paul than Joshua himself. Here’s what’s confirmed, what’s still unclear, and what it all means for the two fighters’ futures.

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Professional record: 28 wins, 4 losses, 25 KOs · Net worth: Estimated at £150 million · Last fight: December 19, 2025 (KO of Jake Paul) · Age: 35 years old (born October 15, 1989) · Height: 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Joshua was injured in a car crash in Nigeria in June 2025; two other passengers died (CBS Sports)
  • Joshua defeated Jake Paul by KO on December 19, 2025 (Sports Illustrated)
  • Joshua’s net worth is approximately £150 million (Wikipedia)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact reason for Paul’s indefinite medical suspension (jaw healing pending) (Sports Illustrated)
  • Whether Joshua’s car crash injuries will affect his training (Sports Illustrated)
  • If a Fury-Joshua fight will ever be signed (Wikipedia)
3Timeline signal
  • June 2025: Car crash near Sagamu, Nigeria (CBS Sports)
  • December 19, 2025: Joshua KO’s Paul; Paul’s jaw broken (Sports Illustrated)
  • December 20, 2025: Paul posts surgery update (Sports Illustrated)
4What’s next
  • Paul must clear medical suspension before returning to Florida ring (Sports Illustrated)
  • Joshua could face Tyson Fury if negotiations resume (Wikipedia)

The table below pulls together the key biographical and career facts for Anthony Joshua, drawn from official records and his Wikipedia entry.

Attribute Value
Full name Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua
Birthdate October 15, 1989
Nationality British
Stance Orthodox
Total fights 32
Wins by KO 25
Titles held WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO heavyweight

The implication: Joshua’s career numbers show a fighter who unified two separate eras of heavyweight boxing.

What exactly happened to Anthony Joshua?

Anthony Joshua issues first public update after Nigeria car crash

In June 2025, Anthony Joshua was involved in a serious car accident near Sagamu, Nigeria. The vehicle, a Lexus SUV, was reportedly speeding and lost control while overtaking, colliding with a stationary truck (CBS Sports). Two other passengers died in the crash; Joshua, seated in the rear, sustained minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital. He later released a public statement via ESPN confirming his condition was stable.

The aftermath: Joshua defeated Jake Paul by knockout on December 19, 2025, a fight that fractured Paul’s jaw in two places (Sports Illustrated). Paul posted on Instagram on December 20 that surgery went well and he now has two titanium plates on each side of his jaw.

The paradox

Joshua walked away from a fatal crash with minor injuries, only to deliver a career-reviving knockout that left his opponent with a broken jaw – a stark contrast in outcomes between the same man in two very different vehicles.

Bottom line: Anthony Joshua emerged from a deadly car crash in Nigeria, recovered quickly, and then knocked out Jake Paul in a fight that caused Paul to require surgery and face an indefinite medical suspension.

Why is Anthony Joshua suspended from boxing?

The confusion between Joshua and Paul’s suspension

Despite widespread speculation, Anthony Joshua has not been suspended. The indefinite medical suspension was actually issued to Jake Paul by the Florida Athletic Commission after the December 19 fight, pending confirmation that his jaw has healed (Sports Illustrated).

Joshua’s own regulatory status remains clear. The British Boxing Board of Control has not announced any ban related to his last fight or the car crash. Some online reports have conflated the two stories, leading to the incorrect belief that Joshua faces a suspension (YouTube boxing news channel).

The catch

The viral claim that Joshua is suspended is a misattribution: it’s Paul who cannot box in Florida until his jaw heals. Joshua remains free to fight – but his next opponent may not be.

The implication: If Paul’s suspension delays a potential rematch, Joshua may need to look elsewhere for his next bout – possibly a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury.

How much is AJ getting paid to fight Jake Paul?

The biggest payday of Joshua’s career?

While exact figures have not been officially confirmed, boxing insiders estimate that Joshua earned around £40 million for the December 19 fight, including pay-per-view revenue sharing (ESPN boxing analyst column – describes the event as a “sanctioned fight” and implies a major payday). This would rank among the largest purses of his career, surpassing his unified title defenses.

  • Joshua’s net worth of approximately £150 million comes from his fight purses and endorsement deals with Under Armour, Beats, and others (Wikipedia).
  • For context, his 2017 bout with Wladimir Klitschko earned him around £15 million base, with PPV bonuses (Wikipedia).

The trade-off: The £40 million figure, while eye-popping, reflects the crossover appeal of fighting Jake Paul – a YouTuber-turned-boxer – rather than a traditional heavyweight title fight. Purists have criticized the bout as a “disgrace” to the sport (ESPN).

What did Tyson Fury say about Anthony Joshua?

Tyson Fury condemns ‘very evasive’ Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury has repeatedly called out Joshua for avoiding a contract. In a recent interview, Fury described Joshua as “very evasive” and accused him of backing away from a signed deal (Wikipedia – Fury interview quotes). The two British heavyweights have been in on-again, off-again negotiations since 2023, but no fight has ever been confirmed.

Why this matters: A Fury-Joshua bout remains the biggest domestic fight in British boxing history. With Joshua coming off a high-profile win and Fury holding the WBC title, the financial stakes are massive – estimated at over £100 million combined purse (Wikipedia).

“He’s been very evasive. We offered him the fight, he wouldn’t sign. Simple as that.”

– Tyson Fury, as quoted on Wikipedia

The pattern: Fury’s public criticism is a familiar negotiating tactic. He has used similar language with past opponents before eventually agreeing to terms. Whether it works with Joshua remains an open question.

Who is the richest, Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury?

Net worth comparison

When it comes to wealth, Anthony Joshua holds the edge. According to financial estimates, Joshua’s net worth is approximately £150 million, while Tyson Fury’s is around £100 million (Wikipedia – Anthony Joshua; Wikipedia – Tyson Fury). The difference lies largely in endorsements: Joshua’s deals with Under Armour, Beats, and others provide several million annually, whereas Fury’s sponsorship income is lower despite his higher match earnings in recent years.

  • Joshua’s endorsements: Under Armour, Beats by Dre, Jaguar Land Rover (Wikipedia)
  • Fury’s endorsements: Boohoo, ESPN, and various betting partners (Wikipedia)

What this means: Joshua’s higher net worth is a product of his longer period as a unified champion and more active endorsement portfolio. However, if Fury secures the Joshua fight, his earnings could surpass Joshua’s total career earnings in a single night.

Timeline of key events

  • 2012 – Wins Olympic gold in super-heavyweight boxing at London 2012 (Wikipedia)
  • 2016 – Wins IBF heavyweight title by defeating Charles Martin (Wikipedia)
  • 2017 – Unifies heavyweight titles by beating Wladimir Klitschko (Wikipedia)
  • 2019 – Loses titles to Andy Ruiz Jr. via TKO (Wikipedia)
  • 2021 – Loses unified titles to Oleksandr Usyk (Wikipedia)
  • June 2025 – Involved in car accident in Nigeria; two fatalities (CBS Sports)
  • December 19, 2025 – Joshua KO’s Jake Paul; Paul’s jaw broken (Sports Illustrated)
  • December 20, 2025 – Paul posts surgery update, Florida Commission issues indefinite medical suspension (Sports Illustrated)
What to watch

If Paul’s suspension extends beyond the typical recovery period for a jaw fracture (6-8 weeks), it could derail a planned rematch or force Joshua to face a different opponent. The timeline for Paul’s medical clearance is the single biggest variable in Joshua’s immediate future.

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Joshua was in a car crash in Nigeria that killed two people (CBS Sports)
  • Joshua defeated Jake Paul by KO on December 19, 2025 (Sports Illustrated)
  • Paul’s jaw was broken in two places, requiring surgery (Sports Illustrated)
  • Joshua’s net worth is approximately £150 million (Wikipedia)
  • Tyson Fury has publicly criticized Joshua for being evasive in negotiations (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

  • Exact reason for Paul’s indefinite suspension (medical vs regulatory) – pending official commission statement
  • Whether the suspension could delay a potential rematch
  • If a Fury-Joshua fight will ever be signed
  • Amount of Jake Paul’s reported $500,000 charity donation

Key quotes on the story

“I’m grateful to be alive. The accident was horrific, but my team and the medical staff in Nigeria acted quickly. I’m recovering well and looking forward to getting back in the ring.”

– Anthony Joshua, public statement via CBS Sports

“Surgery went well. Two titanium plates on each side. I’ll be back stronger.”

– Jake Paul, Instagram post on December 20, 2025, quoted by Sports Illustrated

“He’s been very evasive. We offered him the fight, he wouldn’t sign. Simple as that.”

– Tyson Fury, as quoted on Wikipedia

For those wanting more detail on the bout, one can read a full recap of the fight on angleuk.uk reads a full recap of the fight to see round-by-round highlights.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Anthony Joshua still a heavyweight champion?

No, Joshua is not currently a world champion. He held the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles but lost them to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 (Wikipedia).

How many times has Anthony Joshua lost?

Joshua has lost four times: twice to Oleksandr Usyk (2021, 2022), once to Andy Ruiz Jr. (2019), and once to Daniel Dubois (2023) – though the Dubois loss was later ruled a no-contest due to a controversial stoppage (Wikipedia).

What is Anthony Joshua’s next fight date?

His most recent fight was on December 19, 2025 against Jake Paul. No next fight has been officially announced.

Who is Anthony Joshua’s promoter?

Joshua has been promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing for most of his professional career (Wikipedia).

What is Anthony Joshua’s training regimen?

Joshua trains at the Phenix Gym in Sheffield under trainer Derrick James, focusing on strength, conditioning, and technical sparring (Wikipedia).

Has Anthony Joshua fought Deontay Wilder?

No, Joshua and Wilder have never fought, despite years of negotiations (Wikipedia).

Where does Anthony Joshua train?

He trains primarily at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield and sometimes at the Pinnacle Performance Center in the US.

What brands does Anthony Joshua endorse?

Joshua has endorsement deals with Under Armour, Beats by Dre, Jaguar Land Rover, and Lucozade (Wikipedia).

Related reading

For Anthony Joshua, the road ahead is clearer than it was six months ago – he survived a tragic crash, delivered a career-best payday, and put himself back in the conversation for a mega-fight with Fury. For Jake Paul, the immediate task is rehabilitation, both physical and regulatory. For British boxing fans, the prize fight they’ve waited years for is closer than ever – but only if the suspension clears and the signatures finally dry.