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Nick Buckley, a British charity worker who previously represented Reform UK, has stirred controversy after criticising Nigerian-British former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua in a social media post.

In remarks posted on Saturday, December 20, via X, Buckley wrote: “Anthony Joshua is a good example of what is wrong with mass immigration.”

He further stated: “First of all, he is an anti white racist as per his speech during BLM protests where he called for blacks not to use white businesses.

“Secondly, he waves around a third world flag as if it is worthy of respect and represents him.

“My prediction – he will only ever live in white countries and never live in Nigeria. Ungrateful hypocrite.”

“To understand why AJ is the way he is, you must understand Anglophobia and how it attacks our culture,” he said in another post.

The comments attributed to Buckley generated strong reactions online due to their language and criticism of Joshua’s background, identity and past public statements.

X users from across the world condemned Buckley’s comments, accusing him of racism and hate.

As of the time of this report, Anthony Joshua has not publicly responded to the remarks.

For instance, an X user, Matthew Stadlen (@MatthewStadlen) posted, “Your posts are good examples of racism, Nick.”

Also, Big Wiz (@WisdomMatic) stated, “Bro, he’s literally a British boxer and has represented Britain throughout his career.

“Let the man acknowledge his heritage. That doesn’t make him any less British.

“He’s British and will keep representing Britain until he retires.”

@Bryan_OG2, wrote: “I don’t even understand your pain… AJ is doing well for himself and representing his country and you’re just looking for ways to discredit him which makes you look bad in every way.You can do better.”

Another X user, @baresaremean, wrote: “People like you are why people become anti-white racists. the problem is you. Someone like AJ can only be one anti-white racist but you can create and inspire and organize thousands of them, a process that never begins without your bullshit. What we need to remove from society is you not them.”

Many other X users also condemned the statement attributed to Buckley MBE.

Joshua, who is Nigerian by heritage and a citizen of the United Kingdom, bears the Nigerian name Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua. He is also known for displaying the Nigerian flag during many of his professional fights.

Joshua recently defeated YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a high-profile bout that reportedly ended with Paul driving himself to hospital with a broken jaw.

The fight ended in the sixth round of Friday night’s heavyweight contest at the Kaseya Center, with Joshua dropping Paul four times in a one-sided encounter that had been built as a Netflix-backed global event.

Buckley MBE, who criticised Joshua, is not new to controversy, particularly for comments directed at Africans.

He is a British social entrepreneur and political activist, best known as the founder of The Mancunian Way, a Manchester-based charity focused on preventing youth crime, tackling rough sleeping and exposing child exploitation.

He spent about 15 years working with homeless people and was awarded an MBE in 2019 for services to vulnerable communities, particularly the homeless.

In 2020, Buckley was dismissed from The Mancunian Way after publishing an article critical of the Black Lives Matter movement, which sparked an online petition accusing him of upholding inequality. Following a pre-lawsuit agreement, the charity’s trustees resigned en masse and Buckley was reinstated under a new board.

Politically, Buckley was the Reform UK candidate for Mayor of Greater Manchester in 2021, finishing fifth with 2.69 per cent of the vote.

He later contested the 2024 mayoral election as an independent, placing third with 7.6 per cent. He is currently a member of the far-right party Advance UK, where he advises on social policy.