Anthony Joshua stepped onto the weigh‑in platform on Friday and registered a weight of 251 pounds, marking a rise of roughly 7.6 pounds compared with his last official bout against Jake Paul in December 2025. The British heavyweight is set to travel to Jeddah for a Saturday night clash with Albanian contender Kristian Prenga, and the numbers on the scale have already become a talking point among fans and pundits alike. When Joshua faced Paul, the former world champion tipped the scales at 243.4 pounds.
This time around, his weight has crept upward, though it still sits below the heaviest figure he has ever posted for a fight. The peak of his career‑weight came in April 2023 when he stepped into the ring against Jermaine Franklin at 255.4 pounds. By contrast, Prenga arrived at the weigh‑in weighing 261.4 pounds, making him roughly 10.4 pounds heavier than Joshua on the day of the official measurement.
The disparity in size adds another layer of intrigue to what is already being billed as a high‑stakes encounter. Prenga, a 35‑year‑old Albanian fighter, has compiled an impressive record of 20 wins and a single loss in his 21‑fight career. Remarkably, he has finished each of his last 16 victories by knockout or technical knockout, underscoring his reputation as a powerful finisher.
Those credentials have earned him a fervent following back home, where many view him as a national hero poised to claim a major prize on the international stage. In the lead‑up to the event, Joshua expressed confidence and excitement.
Speaking to DAZN Boxing, he said, "We're feeling good. It's going down tomorrow night in Jeddah." His optimism comes after a recent statement from Tyson Fury, who celebrated a seventh‑round TKO over Mariusz Wach in Thailand. Fury, while acknowledging his own success, hinted that Joshua might face a stern test against Prenga, suggesting that the Albanian’s power and momentum could pose a genuine challenge.
Eddie Hearn, the promoter behind Joshua’s camp, echoed the sentiment that this fight will not be a walk‑over. In an interview with DAZN Boxing, Hearn noted, "[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." Joshua has not fought since his December 2025 showdown with Paul, and in the interim he has been sharpening his skills alongside Oleksandr Usyk’s team.
The Ukrainian champion’s camp has been instrumental in guiding Joshua’s preparation, urging him to elevate his performance and demonstrate the greatness they believe he possesses. Joshua himself spoke to Sky Sports about the influence of Usyk’s trainers, saying, "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 expectation is for him to perform at an elevated level consistently, not just for a single night. "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, emphasizing the daily grind that underpins elite performance. Beyond the immediate stakes of the Joshua‑Prenga bout, the event fits into a broader narrative of heavyweight boxing’s resurgence.
The sport has seen a surge of interest following high‑profile match‑ups, and the Jeddah venue promises a global audience, with broadcasters urging viewers to use Chrome for the most accessible video experience. The fight also serves as a litmus test for Joshua’s ability to adapt to a larger, more powerful opponent after a period of relative inactivity. As the night approaches, fans can also look forward to additional programming on Sky Sports, including live coverage of Edgar Berlanga versus Steven Butler and Richardson Hitchins versus Ricardo Salas, scheduled for 10 p.m.
on Sunday. Those interested in catching the action can subscribe to Sky Sports or stream via the NOW platform without a long‑term contract.
In summary, the weigh‑in has set the stage for a compelling showdown: a seasoned British champion, now a touch heavier but still below his career maximum, versus a hungry Albanian challenger who carries the weight of a nation and a string of knockout victories. With both camps confident and the global boxing community watching closely, the outcome of the Joshua‑Prenga fight could shape the heavyweight hierarchy for months to come.