After both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury won their respective interim fights this weekend, they are expected to push ahead with a long-awaited all-British heavyweight clash.
Fury stopped Maurisz Wach in seven rounds on Friday night in Pattaya, Thailand. The next day, ‘AJ’ took on Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Twenty seconds in, he was on the canvas.
Albania’s Prenga scored another knockdown before the first round was finished, but came out in the second much more tentative, allowing the recovered Joshua to snatch back control and produce a knockout and save the Fury fight plans.
Despite the victory, the performance perhaps asked more questions of ‘AJ’ than it answered, who was returning to the ring for the first time since a traumatic car crash in Nigeria in which two of his closest friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
Speaking to Boxing King Media post-fight, Prenga praised Joshua for the win.
“I’m glad I shared the ring with him. He’s a legend, a great fighter. Congratulations to him and I wish him good luck if he fights Fury.”
Asked how he thinks his rival now fares against Fury, Prenga predicted another ‘AJ’ KO.
“I think AJ is gonna win. Knockout.”
The fight may be finalised and announced as early as next week, but the location is reportedly still up in the air. It is also unclear whether or not Fury or Joshua, following their action this weekend, remain happy with a target date of November.
If and when it does happen, it is widely accepted that both men are past their best. Joshua, however, has dismissed any questions raised about his punch resistance.
