Kristian Prenga Vows To ‘Shock’ Anthony Joshua In Saudi Arabia

Albanian heavyweight boxer, Kristian Prenga, has fired a warning at British-Nigerian star Anthony Joshua ahead of their July 25 clash in Jeddah, insisting the former world champion is about to experience a level of power he has never encountered before.

Speaking at a pre-fight press conference, Kristian Prenga dismissed his underdog status and declared he was fully prepared to upset the odds when he steps into the ring against Joshua.

“I train hard, I am ready. I promise you, if I catch you, you’ve never felt anything like my punch. I promise it. You’re a great fighter, but in the ring, I don’t have respect for nobody,” Prenga said.

The New Jersey-based fighter enters the bout with a formidable record of 20 wins and one defeat, with all 20 victories coming by knockout. Since suffering an early-career points loss to Giovanni Auriemma, Prenga has built a reputation as one of the division’s most dangerous punchers, with only one of his last 15 opponents managing to get beyond the third round.

“I think I’m going to shock the world,” Prenga added.

His manager, Keith Sullivan, echoed that confidence, claiming Joshua’s team had made a costly mistake by selecting Prenga as an opponent and insisting the Albanian was ready to seize the biggest opportunity of his career.

Prenga said being overlooked only strengthened his resolve and expressed confidence that fate would favour him on fight night.

“Being underestimated is actually a positive thing for me. Planning before is trying to be bigger than God, and no one is. You’ve got to go with God’s plans, and then you will become a winner. On July 25, I will show it’s God’s plans,” Prenga said.

The 35-year-old also revealed his surprise when he first learned he had been offered a fight against Joshua.

“When my manager called me, he said, ‘You’re going to have a big opportunity; you can fight with AJ.’ First, I didn’t believe it. But I said, ‘Let’s go.’ It’s my time now. I respect him. He’s a great fighter. I watched him from the first fight, always. I grew up with him, but everything he has, I think now is my time. I need to show the world. I’m going to do my best. I promise,” Prenga said.

Joshua, meanwhile, says he is entering the bout in the strongest frame of mind of his career as he prepares for his first outing since December 2025. The two-time world champion revealed that boxing had helped him regain focus following the deaths of two close friends in a car crash in Nigeria late last year.

“I feel solid. This is where I want to be. I’m very grateful for this opportunity. It’s nice doing what I love,” Joshua said.

“I’m building myself up to be stronger than I’ve ever been, not only physically, because that’s natural, but mentally. I’ve realised I’m a lot stronger than I ever thought I was.”

Joshua also played down suggestions that a reported agreement for a future showdown with fellow Briton Tyson Fury could distract him from the task at hand, stressing that contracts mean little without victory.

“I’m not pleased because the pleasure really comes after victory. Signing a contract doesn’t mean anything. Winning is the only true success,” he said.