Joshua responded to his protest participation critics Sunday

Unified Heavyweight Champion, Anthony Joshua, fired back at critics Sunday night after participating in a racial injustice rally in England on Saturday.

Joshua appeared with thousands of protesters in Watford, England, to take part in a “Black Lives Matter” rally and read from pre prepared remarks, particularly aimed at racially biased businesses in England/the U.K.,

"The virus has been declared a pandemic. It is out of control. And I'm not actually talking about COVID-19. The virus I'm referring to is called racism.”

Boxing champ Anthony Joshua gave a speech at a protest in England, then led a "Black Lives Matter" chant.

(@anthonyfjoshua) pic.twitter.com/r8AeGsZcA3

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 7, 2020

After a day of social media outrage reaction at his Saturday remarks, the WBA, WBO, and IBF Heavyweight Champion took to social media on Sunday night to respond. Saying on Twitter:

“If you think I’m a racist, go f&%# yourself,” Joshua blasted back at critics.

“If you watch the full video, the speech was passed around for someone to read and I took the lead. I personally spoke from the heart about the Watford community, ideas of us personally investing 7  figures to create unity and opportunities and adding change to the African/Caribbean community.

Shops aren’t the issue here. Before you talk sh*! you better boycott racism. 

I said what I said and I will act to make change.”

As we wrote on Saturday, Joshua was seen in public on crutches and with a brace on his left knee for the first time, since apparently suffering a knee injury while running during training. The Athletic’s Mike Coppinger reported that the injury is mild and can be rehabilitated in 4 to 6 weeks.

The 30 year old champ is slated to fight IBF number one contender, Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev, later this year when fights resume. That fight was originally supposed to be June 20th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, but has been postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Besides the knee injury, what’s further delaying the fight is that Matchroom Boxing promoter, Eddie Hearn, has maintained they don’t want to hold the title bout without fans present. And, they would therefore, forgo millions of dollars in potential live gate revenue.

Joshua regained his unified titles last December with a lopsided 12-round decision in a rematch win over American Andy Ruiz. That fight was held in Saudi Arabia, and that is a location that Hearn and Matchroom maybe considering to hold the Joshua – Pulev fight.

For now, we wait to see if the criticism of Joshua participating in the protest and advocating boycotting of business will have further affect on the dollars for his future fights.