Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga sets Saudi test before Fury chase
Anthony Joshua faces Kristian Prenga in Jeddah on DAZN PPV, with CBS Sports backing Joshua by fourth-round TKO.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga lands in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, with the former unified heavyweight champion taking a stay-busy fight that CBS Sports says could shape the road to a long-discussed Tyson Fury bout.
The heavyweight contest will stream on DAZN PPV, according to CBS Sports. Joshua enters as the far more proven fighter, while Prenga brings a 20-1 record and a clean knockout sheet across all 20 of his wins.
When is Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga?
Joshua and Prenga are scheduled to fight Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. CBS Sports reports the event will be available live on DAZN PPV.
The matchup comes at a loaded moment in Joshua’s career. CBS Sports’ Brent Brookhouse reported that Joshua’s previous outing was a six-round win over Jake Paul on Dec. 19, a bout in which Paul was left with a shattered jaw.
That victory followed Joshua’s knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, according to CBS Sports. Ten days after the Paul fight, Joshua was involved in a car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his friends, Brookhouse reported.
Joshua later made clear he planned to keep boxing, CBS Sports reported. Since then, talk of Joshua facing Fury has moved closer to reality after years of public buildup.
Joshua was present for Fury’s April win over Arslanbek Makhmudov, according to CBS Sports, but did not get into the ring when Fury called for him. Brookhouse reported that the Joshua-Fury fight has been announced and is being promoted by Netflix, although no date or location has been confirmed.
Who is Kristian Prenga?
Prenga is a heavyweight with a 20-1 record, and CBS Sports reports every one of his wins has come by knockout. Seven of those stoppages came in the first round.
The question around Prenga is level of opposition. Brookhouse wrote that Prenga has not faced an opponent close to Joshua’s standing in the sport, making Saturday a sharp jump in class.
That gives the fight its hook. Joshua is expected to win, but Prenga’s record shows enough power to make any lapse dangerous, according to CBS Sports’ preview.
What is on the Joshua vs Prenga card?
CBS Sports listed the event lineup as follows:
- Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga, heavyweights
- Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Simon Zachenhuber, WBO super middleweight title
- Josh Kelly vs. Caoimhin Agyarko, IBF junior middleweight title
- Reito Tsutsumi vs. Alvino Herrera Meza, junior lightweight
- Jacob Bank vs. Pawel August, super middleweights
- Oleksandr Khyzhniak vs. Lenny Patrach, light heavyweights
What is the Joshua vs Prenga prediction?
Brookhouse’s pick for CBS Sports is Joshua by fourth-round TKO. His preview frames Joshua as the more accomplished boxer and says a strong version of Joshua should control the fight.
The same analysis gives Prenga a narrow path through power, especially if Joshua is affected by recent events or gives the underdog openings. For now, the expert call is Joshua inside four rounds, with Fury still waiting as the bigger prize if Joshua gets through Saturday.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.