Anthony Joshua a short time ago had a press conference with a strange opponent no one ever heard of.
Joshua seems to be avoiding the UK like mad recently training in strange places for long periods of time like Ukraine and Poland.
He is taking on a guy no one ever heard of next up in Kristian Penga. Even though the Tyson Fury fight apparently is being looked at for later this year.
Speaking a short time ago at the press conference announcing the fight, Joshua said:
“It’s no secret I’ve taken some time to consolidate and rebuild to be ready for stepping back into the ring, and today is the next step on that journey.”
He added:
“I’m delighted to have agreed a multi-fight deal starting with July 25th in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
He further said:
“I’m looking forward to competing and picking up where I left off.”
Joshua has been in decline for the last seven years in reality since he was brutally knocked out by Andy Ruiz Jr on this day exactly seven years ago as it happens.
On this day on June 1st 2019 Ruiz brutally knocked out Joshua and since then he’s had many heavy defeats to the likes of Usyk and Daniel Dubois.
The Dubois defeat for Joshua is thought to have been the most brutal knockout ever seen in the 21st century, as well, to note.
For a refresh on who this Prenga is Joshua is facing next up, some info on him:
- He is a 35-year-old Albanian heavyweight boxer.
- Born on January 24, 1991, in Orosh, Albania.
- He stands 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) tall and fights orthodox.
- He now lives and trains in Edgewater, New Jersey, USA.
- His professional record is 20-1 with 20 knockouts (100% KO rate in wins).
- He turned pro in 2016 and has fought mostly in the United States.
- His only loss came by decision in 2017 early in his career.
- He is known for finishing fights quickly, often in the first or early rounds.
- Prenga is a big, powerful puncher who weighs around 260+ lbs in fights.
- He faces Anthony Joshua on July 25, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in his biggest fight to date.
Look, the fight those in the UK and Europe want to see even with the Joshua decline is still the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua fight.
Who knows if that will actually happen though.
Prenga is who Joshua says he will face next up.