Anthony Joshua stepped onto the scales on Friday and registered a weight of 251 pounds, marking a 7.6‑pound increase from his previous bout against Jake Paul in December 2025. The British heavyweight is set to travel to Jeddah for a Saturday night showdown with Albanian contender Kristian Prenga. While Joshua’s 251‑pound figure is a noticeable rise, it still falls short of his career‑high weight of 255.4 pounds, which he carried when he defeated Jermaine Franklin in April 2023. Prenga, on the other hand, tipped the scales at 261.4 pounds, making him roughly 10.4 pounds heavier than Joshua on weigh‑in day.
The Albanian fighter has built a reputation as a powerful knockout artist, boasting a record of 20 wins and a single loss in 21 professional contests. Remarkably, he has finished each of his last 16 victories by knockout or technical knockout, underscoring his reputation as a heavy‑handed threat. The weigh‑in was conducted amid a flurry of pre‑fight chatter.
Joshua, 35, expressed confidence in a brief interview with DAZN Boxing, stating, "We’re feeling good. It’s going down tomorrow night in Jeddah." His optimism came despite recent comments from rival champion Tyson Fury, who had just secured a seventh‑round TKO over Mariusz Wach in Thailand.
Fury praised his own performance but hinted that Joshua might struggle against the Albanian challenger, suggesting that Prenga’s size and power could pose a serious problem. Eddie Hearn, the promoter behind Joshua’s camp, also weighed in with a measured assessment.
He told DAZN Boxing, "The work is done and this isn’t going to be easy. [Prenga] isn’t a guy coming in here with a bundle of defeats, coming for a payday. He’s got the whole of Albania behind him by the sounds of things as well. 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." Since his December 2025 bout with Paul, Joshua has not stepped back into the ring, opting instead to focus on a rigorous training regimen. Notably, he has been working alongside Oleksandr Usyk’s coaching team, a partnership designed to sharpen his technique and add new dimensions to his game plan. Joshua revealed that Usyk’s camp has been urging him to "show greatness" against Prenga, pushing him to elevate his performance beyond the baseline.
In a candid conversation with Sky Sports, Joshua reflected on the expectations placed upon him: "I’m quite good at what I do anyway. 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 emphasizes consistency: "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." The upcoming fight carries significant implications for both athletes.
For Joshua, a victory would reaffirm his status as a top contender in the heavyweight division after a relatively quiet period following his high‑profile bout with Paul. It would also demonstrate that his collaboration with Usyk’s camp is bearing fruit, potentially positioning him for future marquee match‑ups against the likes of Fury or even a rematch with Paul. For Prenga, the stakes are equally high.
A win in Jeddah would catapult the Albanian fighter onto the global stage, showcasing his knockout power to a broader audience and solidifying his claim as a legitimate threat to the established order. His unbeaten streak, punctuated by a single loss, has already attracted attention, but a triumph over a name as recognizable as Joshua would be a career‑defining moment. Both camps have been emphasizing the importance of preparation and mental readiness. Hearn highlighted the support Prenga enjoys from his home nation, noting that the Albanian boxer carries “the whole of Albania behind him.” Meanwhile, Joshua’s team has focused on fine‑tuning his stamina, footwork, and defensive tactics, areas that were scrutinized in his previous fights.
The integration of Usyk’s technical expertise is expected to bring a more nuanced approach to Joshua’s jab, distance control, and ring generalship. Fans can look forward to a high‑octane encounter, with the added drama of a weight differential that favors the challenger.
Historically, heavier opponents have sometimes leveraged their size to dictate the pace, but Joshua’s experience and adaptability could neutralize that advantage. The fight will also serve as a litmus test for the effectiveness of cross‑team collaborations in modern boxing, where fighters often seek outside expertise to gain an edge. The event is scheduled for Saturday night in Jeddah, and the broadcast will be available via DAZN Boxing. In related news, Sky Sports has announced upcoming live coverage of other fights, including Edgar Berlanga versus Steven Butler and Richardson Hitchins versus Ricardo Salas, set to air from 10 p.m.
on Sunday. Viewers can stream these bouts through Sky Sports or the NOW platform without a long‑term contract.