Eddie Hearn has been Anthony Joshua’s promoter since the Briton turned professional in 2013. He knows what is riding on Saturday’s Saudi Arabia showdown with Kristian Prenga, the huge underdog from Albania.
Firstly, there is Joshua’s entire career. Lose and it is surely over, at least at the highest level. Secondly, the long-awaited Tyson Fury battle is on the line. Lose and that too bites the dust.
Joshua, 29-4 (26 KOs), was last seen in the ring in December and he took his time before landing the fight-ending right hand that shattered Jake Paul’s jaw in the sixth round. Since then, he emerged from a car crash that took the lives of two of his closest friends.
In short, though the 20-1 (20 KOs) Prenga is unfancied and unknown, he represents one of the most important rivals the two-time heavyweight beltholder has thus far faced in his illustrious career.
“AJ is taking this fight very seriously,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “Prenga has 20 wins, 20 knockouts, so he can definitely punch.
“Is he at AJ’s level? I don’t think so, but he’s never been at that level, so until he has, you never truly know.
“Prenga was selected to be a good test, a stiff challenge, but someone AJ should beat in style. But heavyweight boxing is heavyweight boxing.”
Heavyweight boxing produced a win for Tyson Fury on Friday. The 37-year-old dominated the shop-worn Mariusz Wach in Thailand before the 46-year-old was pulled out at the end of the seventh round.
Joshua – significantly closer to the end of his career than the start – must now fulfil his side of the bargain.
“Anthony has had a lot to deal with in the last seven months and there will be a few fingers crossed going into this one because of what’s at the other end,” Hearn admitted.
“It won’t be easy. You’ve got to take this guy out before he takes you out, and that’s what AJ will be intending to do on Saturday.
“Right now, AJ is motivated to continue as long as he can while he feels like he’s still got it.
“Every performance will tell us where he’s at and Saturday will be no different. We know that if we win on Saturday, he’s fighting Tyson Fury in November.
“In our mind, we win that fight and then 2027 is all about trying to recapture that world championship, with the belts quite fragmented now in the sport.
“So, two big assignments lie ahead before the world championship comes, but the way he’s talking, the end is not nigh.”
On Friday, Joshua weighed in at 251lbs compared to 261.4lbs for Prenga.
