Anthony Joshua returns to the ring to take on Kristian Prenga at the Jeddah Superdome, Saudi Arabia, but there is a bigger prize on the line than just a victory on Saturday night.
Success in Saudi Arabia would set up a huge all-British heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury later this year and AJ has to fulfil his side of the bargain this weekend.
Anthony Joshua v Kristian Prenga Tips Preview
Anthony Joshua has been one of the biggest stars of British boxing almost as soon as he turned professional in 2013.
AJ has lit up the heavyweight world and for many years the Watford fighter was the pick of the big-hitting division.
Successes over Charles Martin, Wladimir Klitschko and Joseph Parker took Joshua to three world titles and he has twice been the unified heavyweight champion.
However, more recently there are serious concerns over his ability to continue at the top level of the sport.
Andy Ruiz exposed AJ’s vulnerabilities with a shock victory over the then WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight world champion in 2019.
Joshua was able to right those wrongs in the rematch, but it hasn’t been plain sailing since.
The 36-year-old was twice comfortably beaten by the outstanding Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022, before the British boxer attempted to return to the peak of the sport against Daniel Dubois in 2024.
The loss against Triple D was the most damaging of AJ’s four professional defeats as he was floored four times and stopped by Dubois in the fifth round of their all-British battle.
Clearly, there are huge doubts as to how much Joshua has left to offer, but AJ is -2000 to win on Saturday night and that tells you the level of his opponent Kristian Prenga.
The Albanian has a record of 20-1, with all of those victories coming by knockout, but they are extremely low-level contests and this rates as by far the toughest test of the 35-year-old’s career.
Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga Tale of the Tape
Anthony Joshua | Kristian Prenga | |
Record: | 29-4 (26 KOs) | 20-1 (20 KOs) |
Age: | 36 | 35 |
Birthplace: | Watford, England | Orosh, Albania |
Height: | 6′ 6″ / 198cm | 6′ 5″ / 196cm |
Stance: | Orthodox | Orthodox |
Last Fight: | Won (KO) vs Jake Paul (Dec 25) | Won (TKO) vs Joe Jones (Feb 26) |
KO%: | 89.66% | 100% |
Alias: | AJ | The Eagle |
Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga Top Tip
Under 3.5 rounds (-120)
Defeats to Andy Ruiz, Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois raise serious doubts over a 36-year-old Anthony Joshua’s ability to return to the peak of the heavyweight division.
The Watford man has also been involved in a serious car accident away from the ring and AJ would have plenty to prove if he does get in the ring with Tyson Fury later this year.
However, opposition is key and those doubts are removed against Kristian Prenga.
The 35-year-old is a low-level opponent, and while the New Jersey-based fighter has an impressive 20-1 record, there is no substance to his card.
The Albanian is a stand-up front-foot fighter, who lacks the mobility and footwork to stay out of AJ’s way.
Prenga is likely to stand in front of Joshua and meet fire with fire, and even at this stage of his career, that is a dangerous game against such a big-hitting heavyweight.
The British boxer has been able to knock out Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou in recent times and all of those fighters would be sent off as favorite against Prenga.
Helenius and Wallin’s ponderous and stationary approach was tailor-made for AJ and Prenga is cut from the same cloth as those pedestrian heavyweights.
Of course, the Albanian is a big man, who can pack a punch, but any ambition to land on Joshua is likely to leave him wide open to attack from a former two-time unified heavyweight king.
The total rounds market looks the best avenue to profit on a one-sided contest and, at -120, backing under 3.5 rounds could pay dividends.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
