Joshua Faces Prenga in Jeddah Amidst Fury Showdown Anticipation
Anthony Joshua is set to make his first appearance of 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, facing Kristian Prenga. This fight is seen as a potential precursor to a highly anticipated heavyweight clash with Tyson Fury later in the year. Joshua, a two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist, enters the bout with a professional record of 29 wins, including 26 by stoppage, and four losses.
Prenga, an unbeaten knockout artist, boasts an impressive record of 20 victories, all achieved by stoppage, with only one defeat. Despite his record, the 35-year-old Prenga has not yet faced an opponent of Joshua’s caliber. The potential Fury-Joshua fight has been in the making for a decade, with contracts reportedly signed for a blockbuster bout expected to take place later this year.
The upcoming fight against Prenga carries significant weight for Joshua, especially as he returns to the ring following a car crash in Nigeria that resulted in the deaths of two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele. Observers are keen to see if Joshua can navigate this challenge successfully to keep the long-awaited showdown with Fury on track.
Expert Predictions Favor Joshua
Boxing figures have largely predicted a victory for Anthony Joshua in his fight against Kristian Prenga. Former two-weight world champion Natasha Jonas anticipates an AJ win by a late stoppage, advising caution in the early rounds due to Prenga’s history of early stoppages. Carl Frampton, another former two-weight world champion, believes the fight could conclude by the third or fourth round, expecting Joshua to dominate.
Josh Kelly, the IBF light-middleweight world champion, highlighted Joshua’s mental resilience in returning to the sport. He noted that if the right version of Joshua performs, he would be a formidable opponent for anyone. Adam Smith, a DAZN commentator, expects Joshua to deal with Prenga emphatically, predicting a win within the first four rounds, acknowledging Joshua’s difficult time but observing his current mental and physical state.
Trainer Adam Booth described Prenga as a fascinating opponent, noting his background as a tough unbeaten kickboxer. Booth expects Joshua to appear fresh, establish a quick jab, and secure a clean win. Former super-featherweight world champion Barry Jones stated that any version of Joshua would be too much for Prenga, predicting a stoppage within three or four rounds. Tony Bellew, a former cruiserweight world champion, was more definitive, predicting a brutal knockout by Joshua that would not extend past the third round.
Darren Barker, a former middleweight world champion, also predicted a brutal, early Joshua win, suggesting it would not go beyond three rounds. Trainer Dave Coldwell believes Joshua will win whenever he chooses, viewing the fight as a run-out for him. Coldwell suggested the fight’s duration would depend on Joshua’s desire to practice with his new team, possibly lasting four or five rounds. Ade Oladipo, a DAZN presenter, predicted a knockout victory for Joshua between rounds three and five. Former lightweight world champion Anthony Crolla, while admitting limited knowledge of Prenga, expects Joshua to take his time slightly before knocking Prenga out in three rounds.
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The fight will also feature radio commentary from Jeddah, starting around 20:30 BST on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website and app. Live text commentary will commence earlier, at 19:30, on the BBC Sport website and app.
Source: foxsports.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.