Barry Hearn anticipates that Anthony Joshua will emerge victorious in his match against Kristian Prenga
Barry Hearn anticipates that Anthony Joshua will dominate Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia ahead of his much-anticipated November showdown with Tyson Fury.
Barry Hearn has forecasted that Anthony Joshua will deliver a “very, very painful night” to Kristian Prenga when the heavyweight duo face off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.
The bout marks Joshua’s first fight of 2026 and his first since the tragic car crash in December that took the lives of two of his close friends. It also acts as a preparation before his highly anticipated matchup with Tyson Fury, which is already confirmed for November.
Although Prenga has an impeccable knockout record with 20 victories, Joshua is regarded as the clear favorite in this matchup as he aims to enhance his record ahead of his upcoming fight with Fury later this year.
Hearn asserts that the tragedy Joshua faced has reshaped his mindset and training approach, indicating that the former world champion has intensified his efforts more than ever since joining Oleksandr Usyk’s training camp.
“Saturday night, I anticipate it will be an exceedingly difficult night for Mr. Prenga.” I wish him the best of luck. “I hope he receives a good salary,” Hearn told ESPN.
Surviving that catastrophe, with his friends perishing in such a strange manner, has instilled in him a sense that he has been saved for a reason.
“He has fully committed himself to his training in an entirely new manner. Becoming a part of Usyk’s training team marked a significant change in his approach to training. He believed he was putting in a tremendous deal of effort. He encountered Usyk’s camp and exclaimed, ‘Bloody hell’—this is an entirely different realm.”
Joshua is anticipated to utilize Saturday’s contest as a means of preparation for his highly anticipated clash with Fury, who is set to face Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday.
Although a venue for Joshua versus Fury has yet to be confirmed, Hearn maintains that the fight should take place in the United Kingdom. However, he recognized that Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh might ultimately choose to host it in a different location.
“Our contract specifies that it’s in the UK,” Hearn stated.
“However, the compensation they receive inherently bestows significant influence upon Turki Alalshikh, a fight enthusiast who might have different intentions.”
“We are exerting as much pressure as possible to ensure the fight takes place in the UK.” “This is a matchup I’ve been eagerly anticipating.”
