Anthony Joshua tells Jude Bellingham what to focus on after England be | Boxing | Sport
Anthony Joshua has told England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham to ignore the criticism that’s come his way. The former world heavyweight champion urged the 22-year-old to focus on his football after coming underfire over the international break.
Bellingham has dominated the headlines as the debate rages on over whether he should be included in the England squad for the World Cup next summer. The midfielder was accused of reacting badly to his substitution during their 2-0 win over Albania. Bellingham was said to have not taking Thomas Tuchel’s decision well when being replaced by Morgan Rogers in the latter stages, while he also left out of the starting XI for the win over Serbia that secured qualification for the World Cup.
Joshua was in Miami to preview his return to boxing when he faces YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on December 15. The 36-year-old enters the showdown against the Polarising American on the back of his fourth career defeat after losing to Daniel Dubois, last September at Wembley Stadium.
The former heavyweight was asked his thoughts on the current criticism for the footballer. While he failed to be drawn on the hot-topic due to not knowing the ins and outs of the situation, he offered his advice to the 22-year-old. Joshua said: “Talk to me… What’s happened with Jude? Why [Shouldn’t he be included in England squad]?
“But why? I’m not exactly sure what’s going on with the situation but everyone has their own personality. If he doesn’t want to talk then that’s up to it, if he wants to talk, if he doesn’t, I don’t understand exactly what’s going on, I don’t follow soccer, I follow the fight game.
“What like? Negative? The main thing for him to focus on is getting on that pitch and representing his country and doing a good job. It doesn’t matter what you say, that’s what we’ve got to focus on, he’s probably just tunnel vision which most people don’t understand what it takes to be in Jude Bellingham’s position.
“Jude Bellingham is under immense pressure every day of his life, it might just be one of those days, one of those years but let him do what he does on the pitch, that’s what we need to focus on.”
Former England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright joined the debate as he passionately defended Bellingham.The footballer-turned-pundit claimed that England ‘aren’t ready for a black superstar’ as he took aim at the recent criticism of the former Birmingham City academy star.
He said: “I had to do something for GQ not long ago, and I said as an Englishman, I’m an Englishman, I can’t hide from that. Even though when I was younger, people would say ‘You’re not really English’, yeah, I’m English. I don’t think they’re ready for a black superstar. Who can move like Jude [Bellingham] is moving. They can’t touch him. He goes out there, he performs, he does what he does, he says ‘Who else?’ It’s too uppity for these people.
“I’ll put it in football terms. They all love N’Golo Kante. He’s a humble black man, gets on with what he’s doing. Not saying that he’s an Uncle Tom or anything, that’s just how his personality is. But if you get a [Paul] Pogba, or a Bellingham, and you get that kind of energy, that does not sit well with the people. That kind of person. So someone like Jude, for some reason, frightens these people because of his capability and the inspiration he can give.
“It’s something that you’re taught as a black man when you’re going out there, you just want to do the best you can and keep your head down. And be, for want of a better term, a humble f****** slave.
“This is dragging up from that kind of energy. Because if you are outspoken, black, and playing to that kind of level and not caring, that frightens certain people. That’s what’s happening with Jude. This guy is obsessed with him. He’s moving off that type of energy. He can’t see a black man doing what Jude is doing and not think that it’s not uppity. That he’s not an uppity n*****. I’m going with that. That’s what that comes down to.”
