Anthony Joshua is set to face Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga in a comeback fight scheduled for Saturday in Saudi Arabia. The 36-year-old British fighter has not competed since a car crash in Nigeria last December that resulted in the deaths of two members of his team and close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
Joshua addressed media at a news conference in Jeddah, projecting confidence ahead of the bout. He stated his focus remains entirely on the upcoming contest, emphasizing the need to address immediate challenges before considering longer-term goals. The fighter appeared relaxed throughout the media engagement, departing from his typically reserved demeanor during fight weeks. He engaged in banter with reporters and encouraged supporters in attendance to bring their enthusiasm to the bout.
A victory would position Joshua for a potential all-British heavyweight matchup with Tyson Fury, contingent upon Fury’s scheduled warm-up fight against Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday. Promoter Eddie Hearn indicated that a Fury-Joshua showdown is being considered for later this year. However, Joshua directed attention away from speculation about future opponents, maintaining that the current priority is defeating Prenga.
Prenga, a 35-year-old based in New Jersey, brings a professional record of 20 knockout victories and one loss. Despite this record, the Albanian fighter has not faced competition at Joshua’s level. Joshua, whose career record stands at 29 victories with 26 coming inside the distance and four defeats, dismissed concerns about being knocked out, stating he does not believe Prenga capable of achieving that result while acknowledging ultimate uncertainty.
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