Kristian Prenga has entered the spotlight as a potential giant‑killer ahead of his upcoming bout with Anthony Joshua in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and his sparring partner Brandon Moore is openly betting on a surprise outcome. Moore, who has spent considerable time in the gym with Prenga, believes the Albanian heavyweight possesses the tools to replicate the shock that Andy Ruiz delivered to Joshua back in 2019. That historic night at Madison Square Garden saw the then‑undefeated Joshua lose his IBF, WBA and WBO titles to Ruiz in what many called one of the biggest upsets in modern boxing history. Fast‑forward to the present, and Joshua—currently 20‑1 with 20 knockouts—is using the fight against Prenga as a warm‑up ahead of his much‑anticipated clash with Tyson Fury later this winter.
While bookmakers and most analysts still list Joshua as the heavy favorite, Moore insists that the British champion is vulnerable, especially after a period of inactivity that could leave him susceptible to ring rust. "[Prenga] looks really, really, really good in sparring right now. It's going to be a pretty entertaining fight," Moore told Sky Sports, adding that the Albanian’s size advantage could prove decisive. "I think 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." Moore elaborated on the parallels with the Ruiz upset, noting that Joshua’s return to the ring after a layoff could be a critical factor. "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," he said. The implication is clear: Prenga could capitalize on any hesitation or timing issues that arise from Joshua’s recent inactivity, just as Ruiz did when he slipped a precise left hook that caught the British champion off‑guard.
Beyond the immediate tactical considerations, Moore highlighted the broader significance of the matchup for Prenga’s career. He framed the fight as "the opportunity of a lifetime," emphasizing that a victory over Joshua would instantly catapult Prenga into the elite tier of heavyweight boxing. "AJ is a great fighter, and he's done amazing things in the sport of boxing," Moore acknowledged, "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." The conversation also touched on Moore’s own ambitions. While he is eyeing a high‑profile clash against a UK heavyweight, he remains supportive of Prenga’s quest, recognizing that a win would not only elevate the Albanian but also bring attention to the entire training camp. The fight, scheduled for Saturday in Jeddah, is expected to draw a global audience, and both fighters know the stakes are high.
Moore warned that the bout will be heavily watched, stating, "This is not a small thing—everybody's going to be watching." In the context of the 2026 boxing calendar, this contest fits into a packed schedule of marquee events. Fans can also look forward to other notable fights, such as Johnny Fisher’s appearance at the Zuffa Boxing event in the Copper Box Arena, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports on September 26.
Meanwhile, platforms like NOW are promoting contract‑free streaming options for boxing enthusiasts, and the Toe2Toe podcast continues to deliver weekly analysis and commentary on the sport’s biggest stories. Overall, the consensus among insiders is that while Joshua retains a technical edge and a championship pedigree, Prenga’s combination of size, recent sparring sharpness, and the element of surprise could make him a formidable challenger.
Whether the Albanian can replicate the Ruiz formula—leveraging a well‑timed punch to exploit Joshua’s rust—and pull off a career‑defining upset remains to be seen, but the anticipation surrounding the fight is palpable. The upcoming showdown promises to be more than a warm‑up; it could serve as a defining moment for both heavyweights, shaping the narrative of the division as they head toward future headline‑grabbing bouts.