Heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua delivered a passionate speech as he showed his support for the Black Lives Matter movement by joining a protest match in his hometown of Watford.

Wearing a black hoodie with the movement’s name on the front, the WBA, WBO and IBF world champion joined hundreds of others on the peaceful protest on Saturday afternoon.

At one stage, Joshua, who walked with crutches and wore a leg brace as he recovers from a training injury, addressed those gathered over a microphone.

He addressed the crowd in his hometown surrounded by his entourage. ‘We can no longer from today onward be proud, we can no longer remain silent on the senseless unlawful 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ing, sly racism of another human being based only on what? Their skin colour,’ he exclaimed.

British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is pictured at a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford on Saturday afternoon following the death of George Floyd in the United States

Joshua delivered a passionate speech during the peaceful BLM protests as he addressed gang culture and that Floyd’s death has been the catalyst for change

‘We need to speak out in peaceful demonstrations just like today. So well done Watford, inject the vaccine.

‘We must not use the demonstration for selfish motives and turn it into rioting and looting. We need to be united in non-violent demonstrations. Show them where it hurts, abstain from spending your money in their shops and economies, and invest in black-owned businesses.

‘And that’s for all communities if you want to uplift yourselves, invest in your own businesses. We have to engage with the youth – I completely agree with that – and put an end to black youth gang culture.

‘I’m gunna be real with you about gang culture. I’m down to riot 100 per cent but what you have to realise – it’s done. It is done, trust me.

‘Unless you wanna be sitting in jail, spending years upon years of your only life that you have thinking about ‘yeah, they can lock the locks but they can’t stop the clocks’. That’s all done because there’s too much cameras, too much intelligence.

‘All the OGs that I know are telling me ‘bro it’s finished, it’s finished’. Gang life is finished and that’s what we’re saying.

‘I know that I’m not promoting no gangster business. I’m a legit, straight forward hustler – that’s just in my DNA and in my blood.

Protests have occurred around the world following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis

Joshua wore a leg brace and walked with crutches after sustaining a training injury

Joshua went on to explain that the death of George Floyd, an American man 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed by Minneapolis police officers, was the catalyst for the protests.

‘But I know I’ve taken my street knowledge and put it into the corporate world and I’ve gained a lot of respect in that sense. So anyway, gang culture is done.

‘So, where was I. We have to engage with the youth and put an end to black youth gang culture. This postcode war – how many houses do we own on that postcode that we’re fighting for?

‘Let’s inject the vaccine. Every life matters – 100 per cent I agree with that. But that does include black lives and that’s why we’re here today.

‘George Floyd – we’re all aware of his name – was the catalyst in a list that is already way, way, way too long.’

Joshua’s spokeperson confirmed to Sportsmail that his injury is not serious, saying: ‘Anthony felt a slight twinge in his knee whilst training. The brace Is a precautionary measure on the advise of physios. It will be further checked by his doctors but there is no immediate concern.’

Joshua joined hundreds of peaceful protestors on the march through his hometown

The boxer was handed a microphone to address those gathered during Saturday’s protest

Joshua is the latest high profile sports star to back the BLM movement following the death of African American George Floyd, who was 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, United States.

Police officer Derek Chauvin has since been charged with second degree murder after a video emerged showing him kneeling on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while he laid on the floor in handcuffs.

His death has sparked a series of sometimes violent protests across the United States and demonstrations around the world.

The Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: ‘I was horrified to see the shocking murder of George Floyd and I know that this, and events like it, have caused pain to so many people.

‘It’s important we always stand up and challenge every form of discrimination, racism and injustice.

Basketball icon Michael Jordan, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and England footballer Jadon Sancho are among a host of sporting stars who have spoken out after Floyd’s death.

Joshua wore a hoodie with Black Lives Matter on the front in support of the movement

Hundreds turned out for the Black Lives Matter protest march in Watford on Saturday

Jadon Sancho unveiled a ‘Justice for George Floyd’ message on his t-shirt at the weekend

Manchester United star Paul Pogba has expressed his sadness at George Floyd’s death

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has spoken out on the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement

The England international said: ‘I’ve been trying to process what is going on in the world’

The Liverpool squad stopped training to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement