Anthony Joshua vs Prenga: Predictions favour early stoppage
Fighters and pundits overwhelmingly tip Anthony Joshua to stop Kristian Prenga early in Jeddah on Saturday, clearing a path toward a long-awaited Tyson Fury clash later this year. Voices from Natasha Jonas to Tony Bellew expect a knockout, while Eddie Hearn says AJ must finish the Albanian before Prenga can spoil the party.
Key Takeaways
- Anthony Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) faces Kristian Prenga (20-1, 20 KOs) in Jeddah with a Fury bout expected if he wins.
- Every fighter and pundit surveyed by the BBC predicted a Joshua victory, mostly by early stoppage.
- Eddie Hearn warned AJ must deal with Prenga's power fast; odds list Joshua a massive favorite.
- The bout is Joshua's first since a Nigeria car crash that killed two close friends.
Saturday's heavyweight clash at the Jeddah Superdome is less about who wins on paper and more about what it unlocks. Contracts for Joshua-Fury are already signed, with a November target widely floated after Fury stopped Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday.
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Who do fighters and pundits pick to win?
According to BBC Sport, every voice polled picked Joshua. Former champions Natasha Jonas, Carl Frampton, Barry Jones, Tony Bellew, Darren Barker and Anthony Crolla all said stoppage wins, mostly inside three to five rounds.
Bellew predicted fans "will not see a third round," calling for a "brutal, nasty and vicious knockout." Barker urged viewers not to blink. Trainer Dave Coldwell called it a "run-out," lasting as long as Joshua wants—maybe four or five rounds.
DAZN commentator Adam Smith expects Joshua to win within the first four rounds. Ade Oladipo tipped a KO between rounds three and five. Trainer Adam Booth said AJ looks lean and quicker, projecting a clean win after establishing the jab.
Why does Eddie Hearn say Joshua must finish Prenga fast?
Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports that all 20 of Prenga's wins came by knockout, so he can punch even if he has never faced Joshua's level. "You've got to take this guy out before he takes you out," Hearn said.
Hearn framed Saturday as the first hurdle toward reclaiming a world title and locking in Fury. Joshua himself called Prenga the "first checkpoint," saying there is "no universe, no future" unless he clears it.
What are the odds and how soon could it end?
Bleacher Report listed Joshua at -1150 and Prenga at +900 via FanDuel, with its own pick of Joshua by eighth-round TKO—later than most BBC guests. Prenga is 35 and has never beaten anyone near AJ's caliber, though eight of his KOs came in round one.
Joshua knows the stakes after Fury's tune-up. A dominant night keeps the decade-in-the-making British mega-fight on track; any slip would rewrite the heavyweight calendar overnight.