Anthony Joshua eyes winning return in Saudi Arabia
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has been handed a stern warning ahead of his comeback fight, with Albanian contender Kristian Prenga boldly predicting he will stop the British star before the 10th round of their July 26 showdown in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking during Tuesday’s press conference, Prenga declared that he is not travelling to the Middle East merely to participate, insisting he possesses the power and determination to produce one of the biggest upsets in recent heavyweight boxing history.
The hard hitting Albanian pointed to Joshua’s recent struggles, including his recovery from a serious car accident in Nigeria late last year, as he expressed confidence that the timing is right for him to make a statement.
Prenga, who repeatedly described himself as a fighter rather than a conventional boxer, vowed that the contest would not last the distance.
According to him, Joshua has endured several challenges in recent years, and he believes this is the perfect opportunity to announce himself on the global stage. He maintained that his aggressive style and knockout power would prove too much for the former champion.
“I’m a fighter, not a boxer. I’m going to shock the world,” Prenga declared, promising fans an explosive encounter.
However, Joshua appeared unfazed by the challenger’s confidence. The former two-time unified heavyweight champion dismissed the bold predictions, suggesting that Prenga was only increasing the pressure on himself with such comments.
Joshua warned that fighters who make such declarations often create problems for themselves, while urging his opponent to bring the same intensity and confidence into the ring on fight night.
The Saudi Arabia clash is regarded as a crucial step in Joshua’s career resurgence following his recovery from the December 2025 accident. The British-Nigerian star enters the contest with a professional record of 29 wins, including 26 knockouts, and four defeats.
A convincing victory would strengthen Joshua’s bid for another world title opportunity and keep alive discussions surrounding a long-anticipated showdown with fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury.
With Prenga promising a shock result and Joshua determined to reassert himself among boxing’s elite, the July 26 encounter is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing heavyweight contests of the year.
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