Veteran boxing promoter Barry Hearn has predicted that Anthony Joshua will secure a convincing victory over unbeaten heavyweight Kristian Prenga when the pair clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.
The contest will be Joshua’s first fight of 2026 and his first appearance in the ring since the December car accident that reportedly claimed the lives of two of his close friends. The bout is also expected to serve as a preparatory fight ahead of his much-anticipated showdown with Tyson Fury later this year.
Although Prenga enters the fight with a perfect record of 20 wins, all by knockout, Joshua remains the overwhelming favourite to extend his own impressive record.
Speaking ahead of the bout, Hearn said he expects the former world heavyweight champion to produce a dominant performance.
“Saturday night, I think it will be a very, very painful night for Mr. Prenga. Good luck to him. I hope he gets well paid,” Hearn told ESPN.
Hearn suggested that the personal tragedy Joshua experienced has had a profound effect on the boxer, giving him renewed focus and determination.
According to Hearn, Joshua has adopted a different approach to training after spending time in Oleksandr Usyk’s camp.
“He’s thrown himself into his training in an entirely different way. Joining Usyk’s camp… He thought he was working hard. He’s come across Usyk’s camp and gone: ‘Bloody hell — this is a different world,’” Hearn said.
Joshua is widely expected to use the Prenga fight as a stepping stone toward his blockbuster meeting with Fury, which has reportedly been agreed for November. Fury is also scheduled to return to action this week against Mariusz Wach in Thailand.
While the venue for the Joshua-Fury fight has yet to be officially confirmed, Hearn said he believes the contest should be staged in the United Kingdom.
“Our contract specifies it’s in the UK,” he said.
However, Hearn acknowledged that Saudi boxing figure Turki Alalshikh could ultimately influence where the fight takes place, given his growing role in major boxing events.
“We’re putting all the pressure on we can for the UK. For me, personally, it’s a fight I’ve been looking forward to,” Hearn added.
