Anthony Joshua has been issued a brutal putdown over his choice of comeback opponent, with fellow British heavyweight Dave Allen declaring that 'nobody cares' about the fight. Joshua is set to return to the ring in July against Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia, before a highly anticipated showdown with Tyson Fury in November.
Joshua's Return to the Ring
Joshua will step back into the ring on July 25, marking his first fight since surviving a car crash last December that tragically claimed the lives of two of his close friends. Days prior to the accident, Joshua had knocked out YouTuber Jake Paul, which was his first victory since being stopped by Daniel Dubois over a year earlier. His last win over a recognised professional fighter came in 2023 when he stopped Otto Wallin.
Should Joshua avoid an embarrassing defeat against Prenga, he is scheduled to face bitter rival Tyson Fury in November, likely at Wembley Stadium, in a fight that will be streamed on Netflix. The bout has been long anticipated, with a deal finally agreed after a decade of negotiations.
Dave Allen's Criticism
However, Dave Allen, a fellow British heavyweight, has voiced his disappointment with Joshua's choice of opponent. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Allen said: 'If I'm being honest, I expected better. And I think they could have got someone equally as bad as this fella, who is more of a name really. I don't understand why they picked this fella. I don't get it.'
Allen elaborated: 'I think I've seen Prenga fight before, I think I've mentioned asking to box him. He's big, he's stiff, he's strong, he's powerful, but he's not very good; he's not on this level. We're talking Anthony Joshua level, he's not very good, so I'm disappointed.'
'They could've given someone else the chance, someone we've heard of, someone we knew. No one is going to care about this but Anthony Joshua. He has been out a long time. The Jake Paul stuff, I wouldn't count that as a fight and the one before that, the Dubois fight, was a stoppage loss, so he deserves one, he needs one, but it could be someone we knew, a bit of a name.'
What's Next for Joshua?
Despite the criticism, Joshua remains focused on his path to the Fury fight. The July bout against Prenga is seen as a necessary step to shake off ring rust and build momentum. Prenga, a relatively unknown Albanian-born fighter, has a record of 22 wins and 1 loss, with 19 knockouts. While he possesses power, his level of competition has been limited, leading many to question the wisdom of the matchup.
Joshua's team has defended the choice, citing the need for a safe return after a long layoff and the tragic accident. However, the boxing community remains divided, with some supporting the decision and others echoing Allen's sentiments.
