Kristian Prenga believes that Anthony Joshua’s chin and his mentality will let him down on Saturday night.
The unheralded Albanian boxes Joshua in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and has a walk-on part ahead of what is expected to result in Joshua facing Tyson Fury later in the year.
Asked his thoughts about Joshua’s ability to hold a shot and the Englishman’s mindset, Prenga told Betway: “For me, not what I think but what I see with my eyes, the chin is no chin because we see in the ring he went down many times. And mentally I think it’s not the same as before, but it’s normal because he [Joshua] had an accident [the tragic car crash in Nigeria in December] and he lost to [Daniel] Dubois, and I think it’s not gonna be the same for him.”
Prenga is not expected to crash any party.
He’s 20-1 (20 KOs) but Joshua presents and almighty step up in class for the New Jersey-based Albanian.
Prenga has, of course, been in the spotlight this week because of the occasion. He said he has not been bothered doing the media rounds but admitted, “I’m not a talker person, I’m a puncher guy. And I’m not going on a lot of interviews on TV but it’s part of the sport.”
He also said he’s more motivated in his role as the underdog and he has a desire to prove the naysayers wrong.
Prenga, 35, also thinks AJ is not dismissive of the threat he poses and that the Londoner is not already looking to the Fury fight.
“AJ is a gentleman, he has respect for everybody, but I told him before too, it’s not good to make a plan before God,” said Prenga. “His team, his management, or him, I don’t know, he made a plan before God to fight Tyson Fury, but first he needs to fight me. And it’s not good to make a plan before God because only God can make a plan for you, for me, for everybody.”
Instead, Prenga – who believes Joshua will retire if he loses – thinks he will win and go into the Fury fight instead.
“Why not? It’s gonna be in London. You know you have a million Albanians in London. It’s gonna be a great fight.”
And he anticipates drama on Saturday night in Jeddah against Joshua.
“I’m pretty sure it’s a knockout. It’s not going to decisions,” said Prenga.
