Anthony Joshua is set to return to the ring on Saturday night, but a heavyweight rival has issued a stark warning ahead of his meeting with Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia. Brandon Moore, Prenga's sparring partner, believes the Albanian fighter can replicate Andy Ruiz's stunning 2019 upset and defeat the former world champion.
Prenga's Sparring Partner Predicts Shock Victory
Moore, a professional heavyweight brawler, told Sky Sports: "[Prenga] looks really, really, really good in sparring right now. It's going to be a pretty entertaining fight. I think that he has a pretty good shot of beating him, and I think he's bigger than Joshua. Joshua just has a muscular physique, but Prenga's a bigger man."
He added: "It's going to be a tough fight, but I think he can catch [Joshua] the same way Andy Ruiz did. This is AJ's first fight back. AJ's had a lot of stuff going on in his life - nothing but respect to AJ, but when you're getting back into the ring, you haven't fought in a while, that ring rust is real. This is not a small thing - everybody's going to be watching."
Joshua's Return After Tragic Car Crash
Joshua, 36, last fought in December when he knocked out Jake Paul in Miami. Days after that win, he was involved in a tragic car crash that killed close friends Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami. Many questioned whether he would fight again, but he soon decided to return to the ring.
Moore emphasised the magnitude of the opportunity for Prenga: "I told [Prenga] that he has the opportunity of a lifetime. He has the opportunity that I would wish for. AJ is a great fighter, and he's done amazing things in the sport of boxing. But [Prenga] has the opportunity, you know, to be in the names of people that have beaten future Hall of Famers. Everything has to be aligned. He has to do everything perfectly."
Joshua Confident Ahead of Fury Showdown
Joshua, who lost his world titles to Ruiz in June 2019 before avenging the defeat six months later, remains focused on victory. A win over Prenga on July 25 in Jeddah would set up a long-awaited clash with Tyson Fury later this year.
"I know exactly what I need to do. I’m not worried about respecting this particular opponent, but when I look at myself, I know I’m going to deliver," Joshua said. "This is my division. On July 25 in Jeddah, the best man will win. I’m going to go in there and show how good I am. I’m going to show him my class, my skill and my boxing IQ and see if he can survive my power as well."
