Boxer Anthony Joshua Urged to Speak up About Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Record

Anthony Joshua celebrates defeating Alexander Povetkin to retained his WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight boxing titles, at Wembley Stadium in London on Sept. 22, 2018. Nick Potts/PA via AP

Britain’s Anthony Joshua has been urged by Amnesty International to use the “platform” of his forthcoming world heavyweight title rematch with champion Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia to speak out about the kingdom’s human rights record.

In September Joshua lost his WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight belts to the 35-year-old Ukrainian in a 12-round fight at London’s Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

But the fight contract included a rematch clause and on Sunday it was confirmed that Joshua–Usyk II—a bout dubbed The Rage on The Red Sea—will take place at the 35,000-capacity Jeddah Super Dome on Aug. 20.

Anthony Joshua waits in the ring ahead of his fight with Oleksandr Usyk for the world heavyweight title at Tottenham Hotspur's stadium in London on Sept. 25, 2021. Chris Summers/The Epoch Times

Saudi Arabia has been accused by Amnesty of trying to “sportswash” its human rights record by hosting big boxing fights, buying English Premier League club Newcastle United, and sponsoring the LIV golf series.

Peter Frankental, Amnesty International UK’s economic affairs director, said in The Guardian on Monday, “As we said with golfers in the LIV series and with the sale of Newcastle United, we’d like to see high-profile sporting figures speaking out about human rights to break the malign spell of Saudi sportswashing.”

“We would urge Anthony Joshua to use his platform to show solidarity with those who’ve been persecuted under Mohammed bin Salman’s sweeping crackdowns,” he added.

In 2020 the British government imposed so-called Magnitsky sanctions on 20 Saudi nationals accused of taking part in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The Saudi government has denied it ordered Khashoggi’s death.

Usyk’s country, Ukraine, was invaded by Russia earlier this year and the conflict has seen allegations of widespread human rights abuses, mainly by the Russian side.

The Joshua–Usyk rematch was originally due to take place in June but Usyk returned to Ukraine in February after the Russian invasion and appeared ready to fight on the frontline, along with the Mayor of Kyiv, Vitaly Klitschko, and his brother Wladimir, a former heavyweight champion.

But Usyk was later given permission by the Ukrainian government to leave the country and return to his training camp and he is now preparing for the bout in August.

Usyk, who comprehensively outboxed Joshua in the first fight and remains unbeaten, said this week, “I have a goal, with the help of the Lord I will complete my mission.”

Joshua, who won the same three titles in Saudi Arabia in 2019 after losing them to American Andy Ruiz, said he was the “most motivated I have been” and was convinced he would be world heavyweight champion for a third time, equalling Muhammad Ali’s record.

The winner of Joshua–Usyk II is strongly tipped to fight WBC champion Tyson Fury, who defended his title against Britain’s Dillian Whyte last month.

Last year Joshua agreed in principle to meet Fury in a fight to decide who is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world but Fury was then threatened with legal action by Deontay Wilder and was forced to fight the American for the WBC title for a third time.

Joshua opted to defend his WBO title against the mandatory challenger, Usyk, but his shock defeat further delayed a Joshua–Fury contest, which boxing fans have been waiting for since 2018.

Fury told The Sun he had been refused entry to the United States on Friday, allegedly because of his association with Irish promoter Daniel Kinahan, who has been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury.