Anthony Joshua is refusing to be drawn on questions about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record
Former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has distanced himself from allegations of ‘sportswashing’ ahead of his blockbuster rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia later this summer.
It was confirmed in recent days that the British former Olympic gold medalist and two-time heavyweight champ will take on his Ukrainian conqueror once more in August, this time at the Jeddah Super Dome on August 20, after he was conclusively defeated on points last September in London.
It will be Joshua’s second bout in Saudi Arabia and comes after he previously avenged defeat to Andy Ruiz in Diriyah in late 2019.
But if the Middle East has been a good omen for Joshua in the past, some sections of the media have accused the upcoming fight as being yet another example of ‘sportswashing’ – the term given to some countries who are alleged to be attempted to…
