Anthony Joshua addresses controversy over Black Lives Matter speech
Anthony Joshua has defended his controversial speech at a Black Lives Matter rally, saying he read words written by someone else and realised their meaning only as he delivered them, reports BritPanorama.
The heavyweight boxer addressed the row as the build-up to his December 11 showdown with Tyson Fury gathered pace. Fury recently shared footage of Joshua speaking at a protest in Watford in June 2020, shortly after the death of George Floyd. In the speech, Joshua urged people to “abstain from spending your money in their shops” and support black-owned businesses. He also called on the community to “inject the vaccine” against racism.
Joshua said the address had been taken out of context and acknowledged that it could sound as though he was advocating division. “I read a speech that was written by somebody else and, as I was reading it, I was realising what I was saying,” he told the Telegraph. He joined the rally because he believed what happened to Floyd was wrong, adding that he felt pressure to speak out.
He insisted the speech did not reflect a desire to set communities against one another. Fury had mocked his rival by captioning the video, “This is the man who loves England”, pointing to Joshua’s recent change of corporate address to Dubai. Joshua replied that he would not trade insults, describing Fury’s comments as an attempt to get under his skin. “He’ll be trying to get under my skin, 100 per cent,” Joshua said.
As fight night approaches, the rivalry appears to intensify. Joshua indicated that he’d keep his composure, stating, “I need to be stoic and calm. It’s nothing personal. I know what sort of person he is.” The pair have 11 weeks until their match at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, giving ample opportunity for further exchanges.
Joshua has already questioned Fury’s late enrolment in a voluntary anti-doping programme while referencing his contacts with Fury’s estranged uncle and former trainer, Peter Fury. The bout is expected to have significant financial implications, with Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, noting that Joshua’s choice to stage the fight in the UK would result in more than £10 million in additional taxes. Joshua expressed his desire to bring the contest home, feeling British boxing deserved greater respect internationally.
With tensions simmering ahead of the fight, the stakes continue to rise, echoing how closely intertwined sport and societal issues can be. The narrative is set, and now all eyes will be on what unfolds in the ring—and beyond—when Joshua and Fury finally clash in December.
