World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury says he would have been ‘crucified’ for making a speech like Anthony Joshua did at a Black Lives Matter gathering last week.

In his home town of Watford, Joshua read out a speech written by someone else which said:  "Show them where it hurts. Abstain from spending your money in their shops and economies and invest in black-owned businesses."

AJ then received criticism for the comments on social media, leading him to tell critics to ‘go f*** yourself’ in an uncharacteristically combative response.

Speaking to Behind The Gloves, Fury said: "I’m sure AJ has got his reasons why he said what he said, and its concern is none of my business what he said. That’s his own opinion and everyone to their opinion.

"Whatever his reasons were, he’s done it and it’s in the past so it’s moved on. I’m sure he’s apologised if he’s offended anybody- oh he actually didn’t, did he! He actually said if you didn’t like what I said, go f*** yourself. So no apology necessary. 

"Let’s just say, I’m not pushing knives in or pushing anybody when they’re down but if it had been me who said it, ‘Don’t shop in any black owned stores or any Asian owned stores’ or anything, or don’t buy from their businesses, then I’d have been crucified like Jesus Christ. I’ll just say that."

Joshua and Fury have reached a ‘financial agreement’ for a two-fight deal to face one another next year.

However, Fury will first have to take on American Deontay Wilder in a trilogy bout later this year.

And Joshua looks set to clash with mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev in his next fight after the initial date of June 20 was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.