Why it's trending
The fight is taking place this weekend, with Joshua returning to the ring for the first time since a car crash in Nigeria. Additionally, Tyson Fury won his own tune-up fight on Friday, setting the stage for their long-awaited clash, which has signed contracts.
Anthony Joshua returns to the ring on Saturday against relatively unknown Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with victory expected to set up a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury. Joshua, a two-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist, has won 29 fights, 26 by stoppage, and lost four. Prenga, 35, enters with 20 wins, all by knockout, and one defeat, but has never faced anyone of Joshua's caliber.
The fight is Joshua's first since a car crash in Nigeria that killed two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Promoter Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports that Prenga was selected as 'a good test, a stiff challenge, but someone AJ should beat in style.' Hearn urged Joshua to finish Prenga quickly to avoid any upset that could derail plans for a Fury fight.
Fury comfortably dispatched Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday. Contracts have been signed for a blockbuster bout between Joshua and Fury, expected later this year, possibly in November. BBC Sport quoted former champion Natasha Jonas predicting Joshua wins by late stoppage, while Josh Kelly said Joshua will go through Prenga in three or four rounds.
The fight is widely seen as a formality before the long-awaited Joshua-Fury clash. Odds reflect Joshua as a -1150 favorite (bet $1,150 to win $100), per Bleacher Report. All three sources agree that Prenga's knockout power makes him dangerous early, but Joshua's experience and power should prevail.
Timeline
- Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga fight
Joshua faces Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as a tune-up for a potential Tyson Fury fight. (BBC, Sky Sports, Bleacher Report)
- Tyson Fury defeats Mariusz Wach
Fury comfortably won his own tune-up fight in Thailand, setting the stage for a Joshua bout. (BBC)
- Joshua's car crash in Nigeria
Joshua was involved in a car crash that killed two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. (BBC)
Questions people ask
Who is Kristian Prenga?
Kristian Prenga is an Albanian heavyweight boxer with a record of 20-1, all 20 wins by knockout. He has never fought an opponent of Anthony Joshua's caliber. (BBC, Sky Sports)
When is the Joshua vs. Fury fight?
Contracts have been signed for a blockbuster bout expected later this year, likely in November. Both Joshua and Fury need to win their respective tune-up fights first. (BBC, Bleacher Report)
Why is this fight important for Joshua?
Victory would set up a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury, a fight that has been a decade in the making. It is Joshua's first fight since a car crash that killed two friends. (BBC, Sky Sports)
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