For Anthony Joshua, his fight tonight in Saudi Arabia against Kristian Prenga is regarded as no more than a stopover to his mega fight against Tyson Fury.
Ever the diplomat, Joshua will deny this, saying he is training hard and focusing completely on the Albanian.
It is to be expected. What else can Joshua say? That Prenga is a big lug that he will walk through without a fuss?
If anything, Joshua will sing the praises of Prenga, just as he would any other opponent who does not raise his ire.
Every man who steps in the ring represents a threat, Joshua will remind us. But does Prenga really?
According to Prenga and his team, he does. While we can’t expect them to say anything differently, there is a quiet confidence which makes the Prenga camp secure enough to slip under the radar, unnoticed. While everyone will be focusing on Joshua, Prenga will quietly be preparing for an event that seemed unfathomable earlier in the year.
As a world title will not be on the line, no one should begrudge the 35-year-old underdog this opportunity. You can even make a compelling case that he has earned it by toiling in small clubs since he turned professional 10 years ago, in compiling a 20-1 (21) record. That one defeat came in Prenga’s fifth fight, way back in 2017, so can probably be disregarded, but what is worth a mention is that it is the only professional fight Prenga has not won by knockout.
Based strictly on that, Prenga has to be given at least a puncher’s chance against Joshua, who has been stopped on a couple of occasions.
Prenga turned pro in Germany, where he boxed a few times, and then had some matches in Canada. In 2022, he became entrenched on the East Coast of the United States and boxed mostly in New Jersey. This is where he now resides and where he is training for Joshua under the guidance of Muhammad Salaam.
Until now, Prenga has largely been fighting just to pay his bills, waiting and waiting for a breakthrough that looked like it would never come. That is until he joined forces with his current manager, Keith Sullivan.
Sullivan, a New York-based attorney, manages several fighters, most notably welterweight Paddy Donovan, who he co-manages with Andy Lee. Between that and running a law firm, Sullivan’s plate was full when Prenga approached him.
“Kristian and I had been speaking for about the last year. We finalised an agreement for me to take over management of his career last February,” says Sullivan.
Although Prenga was largely unknown, his situation was less than desperate.
“Kristian’s fan base in the New York and New Jersey area is incredibly loyal and passionate, which gave him local financial leverage” says Sullivan.
“I pitched Kristian to various top promoters as a legitimate heavyweight with an exciting style. After knocking on the door a few times, Matchroom eventually reached out and we quickly worked on a deal quietly [for the Joshua fight].
Prenga is grateful to Sullivan for securing Joshua so soon after their association became official. However, the bottom line is that when all is said and done, all anyone will remember is what took place in the ring. Prenga is more than happy with that being the case.
“Opportunities like this don’t come often,” he says. “I have spent my entire career preparing for moments exactly like this. I see it as the night I will shock the world.
“I know the work I will put in; I know how strong I am. Heavyweight boxing only takes one moment, and I truly believe I have the tools, power and mentality to create the moment.”
Although Eddie Hearn has already said that Prenga’s power is a concern, the reality is that he was selected to face Joshua because he is not seen as a serious threat – or even a threat at all. With 16 consecutive knockouts to his record, Prenga at least looks statistically strong, even if the naked eye test indicates the big Brit is on another level.
“I think so, yes,” says Prenga when asked if Joshua is overlooking him. “But I’m not coming to survive or collect a paycheque, I am coming to win.”
Sullivan is giving his man every tool at his disposal to do so.
“Kristian will have an experienced team around him covering every aspect of preparation: boxing trainers, strength and conditioning, nutrition, recovery, sparring, and overall strategy. We are bringing in the right people to simulate Joshua’s size, athleticism and style.”
This will be far and away the biggest fight of Prenga’s career, but he won’t be overawed by either Joshua or the size of the event.
“Pressure is a privilege. Big crowds don’t intimidate me,” he says. “Are Joshua’s fans loyal enough to travel to Saudi Arabia? The Albanian fans will be there with me. I’ve dreamed about fighting on stages like this my whole life.
“I’m not going to disrespect him [Joshua], because he’s achieved a lot, but like every fighter, he’s human. I believe when he’s forced into uncomfortable situations and has to fight at a pace he doesn’t like, vulnerabilities appear.”
Prenga would rather focus on what he does well, than on what Joshua does not.
“My greatest strength is my mentality,” he says. “I’ve had to fight for everything in life and in boxing.”
Whatever Prenga’s mindset is, the fact is that at 6ft 5in and around 260lb, he does match Joshua from a physical standpoint. Whether that translates into success inside the ring is another matter.
“Physically, I have real heavyweight power and toughness, but mentally, I never break,” he insists.
”Albania has proud fighting people, and they’ve supported me from day one. To beat a global name like Joshua would be a massive moment for Albanian boxing and for every Albanian around the world.”
If Prenga were to pull off the shock of all shocks, there is a reasonable chance, he would have to prove it was more than an illusion. Joshua has a rematch clause in the event Prenga won. For now, though, Prenga is only focused on this fight and has no desire to talk about what comes after.
If there is a mystique to this fight, it is in Prenga being the mystery man. His knockouts can be viewed on YouTube, but are they the result of him being a puncher or his opponents not being able to stand up to one?
The only notable on his ledger is Joey Dawejko, who Prenga stopped in five rounds in 2024.
Prenga is elusive when asked what his strategy will be for Joshua. “Are you working for AJ?” Prenga laughs. “You want my game plans? Can you give me Joshua’s in return?
“Know this: I am not going in there just to stand around and admire him. I’m going there to compete, impose myself, and take over when the opportunity comes.
“If you don’t know who I am now, you will after I beat Joshua.”
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