Anthony Joshua is set to return to the ring in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, facing Kristian Prenga in a bout that could pave the way for a highly anticipated fight against Tyson Fury. Joshua, a two-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist, holds a record of 29 wins, with 26 by stoppage, and four losses. Prenga enters the contest with 20 victories, all secured by stoppage, and one defeat.
This fight marks Joshua’s first appearance since a car crash in Nigeria that resulted in the deaths of two friends, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele. The planned fight between Joshua and Fury has been discussed for a decade, with contracts reportedly signed for a potential event later this year.
Undercard Action and Fighter Preparations
Ahead of the main event, the undercard featured several notable fights. Hamzah Sheeraz defended his WBO super-middleweight title against Simon Zachenhuber. During their fight, Sheeraz landed a body shot and a hook to the nose in the third round. The contest saw exchanges in rounds six and seven, with Sheeraz focusing on his left hand. Sheeraz was on the front foot in the early rounds, searching for openings against Zachenhuber, who was busy and landed punches.
Another undercard bout saw Josh Kelly defend his IBF light-middleweight title against Caoimhín Agyarko. Kelly boxed smoothly in the initial rounds but sustained a cut under his left eye. Agyarko began to gain momentum in the second half of the fight, with Kelly’s work rate decreasing. Kelly was also docked a point in round six for a punch to the back of the head. The judges ultimately scored the fight 114-113 and 115-112 (twice) in favour of Kelly.
Meanwhile, Tyson Fury secured a victory against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, with Wach’s corner stopping the fight after seven rounds. This win keeps Fury’s part of the potential showdown with Joshua on track. Both Joshua and Prenga were seen getting their hands wrapped in their dressing rooms as the undercard progressed.
Predictions for the Main Event
Several boxing figures have offered their predictions for the Joshua vs Prenga fight. Former two-weight world champion Natasha Jonas anticipates a late stoppage victory for Joshua, advising caution in the early rounds due to Prenga’s history of early stoppages. Carl Frampton, also a former two-weight world champion, believes Joshua will win in the third or fourth round.
Josh Kelly, the IBF light-middleweight world champion, commented on Joshua’s resilience and stated that if Joshua performs, he can defeat any opponent. Adam Smith, a commentator, expects Joshua to deal with Prenga emphatically, given Prenga’s lack of experience at Joshua’s level. Trainer Adam Booth noted Prenga’s background as a kickboxer and predicted a clean win for Joshua, expecting him to be quicker than before.
Former super-featherweight world champion Barry Jones suggested that any version of Joshua would be too much for Prenga, predicting a stoppage in three or four rounds. Tony Bellew, a former cruiserweight world champion, foresees a brutal knockout win for Joshua that will not extend past the third round. Darren Barker, a former middleweight world champion, also predicted an early, brutal victory for Joshua, not going past three rounds.
Trainer Dave Coldwell indicated that Joshua could win whenever he chooses, describing Prenga’s record as flattering and his style as cumbersome. Coldwell suggested the fight might last four or five rounds, depending on Joshua’s desire to practice with his new team. Ade Oladipo, a presenter, predicted a knockout victory for Joshua between rounds three and five. Former lightweight world champion Anthony Crolla expects Joshua to take his time and knock Prenga out in three rounds, acknowledging the significant step up in competition for Prenga.
Joshua expressed his ambition, stating, “It’s on Prenga, but it’s also on Fury, because I want it all.”
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Source: bbc.com
