Anthony Joshua stepped onto the scales on Friday and recorded a weight of 251 pounds, a noticeable increase of 7.6 pounds from his last recorded weigh‑in when he faced Jake Paul in December 2025. The British heavyweight is set to travel to Jeddah for a Saturday night bout against the Albanian contender Kristian Prenga, and the numbers from the weigh‑in have already sparked discussion among fans and analysts.
At the same time, Prenga arrived at the official scale tipping the scales at 261.4 pounds, putting him 10.4 pounds heavier than Joshua on the day of the event. This marks a significant size advantage for the 35‑year‑old Albanian, who has built a reputation as a powerful puncher. For context, Joshua’s heaviest recorded fight weight to date was 255.4 pounds when he knocked out Jermaine Franklin in April 2023, meaning the current 251‑pound mark is comfortably below his personal maximum but still above his recent average.
The weigh‑in took place against the backdrop of a busy heavyweight calendar. Earlier in the week, Tyson Fury secured a seventh‑round technical knockout over Mariusz Wach in Thailand, a victory that added another layer of intrigue to the upcoming Joshua‑Prenga clash.
Fury, speaking to the press after his win, admitted he had “got through” his own test but expressed doubt about Joshua’s ability to overcome Prenga’s physicality and momentum heading into the Jeddah showdown. Prenga’s record further underscores the challenge he presents. In a 21‑fight career, the Albanian has suffered only a single defeat, and impressively, he has finished his last 16 opponents by way of knockout or technical knockout. Such a streak of decisive victories has earned him a sizable following in Albania, where supporters are rallying behind their native son as he prepares to face one of the sport’s most recognizable names.
Eddie Hearn, the promoter behind Joshua, offered his perspective to DAZN Boxing, emphasizing the magnitude of the encounter. “The work is done and this isn’t going to be easy,” Hearn said, noting that Prenga arrives without a long list of losses and with the backing of an entire nation.
“Big fight, big opportunity. We know what comes the other side; we’ve just got to deal with this guy tonight.
I expect, and I hope, that we get a performance that shows everything that Joshua has put into this training camp.” Joshua, who has not stepped into the ring since his December 2025 bout with Paul, has been busy behind the scenes. He has been training alongside the team of Oleksandr Usyk, a partnership that has reportedly pushed him to elevate his preparation. In interviews leading up to the fight, Joshua explained that Usyk’s camp has encouraged him to “show greatness” against Prenga, urging him to go beyond merely doing enough to win. Speaking to Sky Sports, Joshua reflected on his own abilities and the expectations placed upon him.
“I’m quite good at what I do anyway,” he said. “I’m quite strong. I can take, I can give, so sometimes I can just get away with doing enough but still be good enough. But these guys are like, ‘nah.’ They want to see more.
They want to see more, like bring it out. Let’s bring out the good stuff that you’ve got in you and let’s improve. And my approach to training has definitely improved a lot.” He added that the guidance from Usyk’s team focuses on consistency and daily excellence.
“You’re performing at your best, but it should be normal to perform at this level. That’s what Usyk’s team were saying. Your greatness should just be something that you do every day in the gym,” Joshua explained. This mindset suggests a shift from a mindset of occasional brilliance to one of sustained, high‑level performance.
Beyond the immediate fight, the event promises additional heavyweight action on the card. Fans can also look forward to a pair of undercard bouts featuring Edgar Berlanga versus Steven Butler and Richardson Hitchins versus Ricardo Salas, both slated to take place in New York and broadcast live on Sky Sports starting at 10 p.m. on Sunday. Viewers have the option to watch via a Sky Sports subscription or stream the action without a contract through the NOW platform.
In summary, the weigh‑in has highlighted a notable weight gap between Joshua and Prenga, with the Albanian entering the ring heavier and boasting an impressive knockout streak. Joshua, meanwhile, is entering the fight refreshed after a period of focused training with Usyk’s team, aiming to demonstrate the improvements he has made. With the support of his promoter, his training camp, and a global audience, the stage is set for a compelling heavyweight encounter in Jeddah that could have lasting implications for the division’s hierarchy.