Eddie Hearn has made it clear that Anthony Joshua needs to put an end to Kristian Prenga’s chances before the Serbian‑Albanian fighter can even think about disrupting the roadmap toward a clash with Tyson Fury. The upcoming bout in Saudi Arabia, scheduled for Saturday, is expected to see Joshua dispatch the 20‑year‑old prospect—who boasts a flawless 20‑1 record with all wins coming by knockout—thereby clearing the way for a high‑profile all‑British showdown with Fury later in November. Prenga remains something of an enigma.
While his record looks impressive on paper, he has yet to face an opponent of Joshua’s caliber, and the fight will be the first major test for the Albanian‑born contender on a global stage. Hearn acknowledged that the perfect win‑to‑knockout ratio is unsettling and that it makes it imperative for Joshua to land the decisive blow early in the contest. "AJ is taking this fight very seriously," Hearn told Sky Sports. "Prenga has 20 wins, 20 knockouts, so he can definitely punch.
Is he at AJ's level? I don't think so, but he's never been at that level, so until he has, you never truly know. Prenga was selected to be a good test, a stiff challenge, but someone AJ should beat in style.
But heavyweight boxing is heavyweight boxing." The promoter emphasized that Joshua must approach the bout with a clear intent to finish the fight before Prenga can mount any serious offense. "You have to take this guy out before he takes you out," Hearn said, underscoring the urgency of a swift victory. He added that Joshua has faced a turbulent seven‑month period and that the upcoming fight carries extra weight because of what lies beyond it.
Hearn framed the Prenga contest as the first of two pivotal assignments for Joshua if he hopes to reclaim the world heavyweight crown in 2027. The second, and arguably more coveted, challenge is the anticipated bout with Fury—a fight Hearn believes Joshua can win before setting his sights on becoming a three‑time world champion. "Right now, AJ is motivated to continue as long as he can while he feels like he's still got it," Hearn noted. "Every performance will tell us where he's at and Saturday will be no different.
If we win on Saturday, he's fighting Tyson Fury in November. In our mind, we win that fight and then 2027 is all about trying to recapture that world championship, with the belts quite fragmented now in the sport. So, two big assignments lie ahead before the world championship comes, but the way he's talking, the end is not nigh." During the pre‑fight press conference, Joshua himself highlighted the significance of the Prenga encounter. "I understand there is a big picture," he said.
"The goal is to conquer the universe. But first we must conquer earth. Prenga is my target. It's my coach against his coach.
My physio against his physio. My strategist against his strategist. This fighter against that fighter.
The reality of the matter is there is no universe, no future, unless I get past this checkpoint on Saturday night." In essence, Hearn wants Joshua to treat the fight as a stepping stone—a necessary hurdle that, if cleared convincingly, will cement his position as the rightful challenger to Fury. The promoter warned that while Prenga’s knockout record is impressive, the heavyweight division is unforgiving, and any lapse could jeopardize Joshua’s long‑term ambitions. By delivering a dominant performance, Joshua can not only silence doubters but also solidify his claim to a future title shot. The stakes are high, and the narrative is clear: a swift, decisive win over Prenga will keep the Joshua‑Fury saga on track and preserve the momentum needed for a potential world‑title reclaim in the coming years.
The fight in Saudi Arabia, therefore, is more than a mere tune‑up; it is a litmus test for Joshua’s readiness to re‑enter the elite echelons of heavyweight boxing and to prove that he can still deliver the power and precision that once made him a global phenomenon.