Anthony Joshua looks to close in on a clash with Tyson Fury when he meets Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) faces Prenga (20-1, 20 KOs) at the Jeddah Superdome, live on DAZN pay-per-view, a day after Fury battles Mariusz Wach in Thailand.
A Joshua-Fury bout is signed, but hinges on both men winning their respective fights.
‘AJ’ fights for just the second time in almost two years, bouncing back from a crushing fifth round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois with a sixth round blowout of YouTuber-turned-boxer, Jake Paul in December.
10 days after stopping Paul, the two-time heavyweight world champion was involved in a fatal car crash while on holiday in Nigeria, which took the lives of two of his close friends Latif “Latz” Ayodele and Sina Ghami.
The 36-year-old escaped with minor injuries and returned to training camp in January alongside former foe, Oleksandr Usyk in Spain.
Albania’s Prenga is a relative unknown, but heads in with a 100% knockout ratio.
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The 35-year-old has won 16 straight since a sole professional defeat in 2017, but takes a huge step-up in class against the Watford man.
Prediction: Joshua should dispatch of Prenga inside the opening two rounds.
Sheeraz defends title vs Zachenhuber
Hamzah Sheeraz makes a maiden defence of his WBO super middleweight world title against Germany’s Simon Zachenhuber.
Sheeraz (23-0-1, 19 KOs) secured the vacant WBO crown with a second round knockout of Alem Begic in Egypt in May.
Zachenhuber (29-1, 18 KOs) has somehow landed himself a world title shot, despite losing on points to Pawel August in April and bouncing back with a low-key win in June.
Prediction: Sheeraz should once again show levels here and stop Zachenhuber in the opening four rounds.
Kelly defends belt vs Agyarko
Josh Kelly also makes a maiden world title defence, putting his IBF super welterweight belt on the line against Caoimhin Agyarko.
Kelly (18-1-1, 9 KOs) dethroned feared Russian Bakhram Murtazaliev, climbing off the canvas to take the IBF crown in January.
Agyarko (18-0, 7 KOs) is undefeated in 18 professional bouts and heads in off a split decision victory over Ishmael Davis in September.
Prediction: Kelly can outbox Agyarko with his superior speed and skillset to take a unanimous decision win.
Remaining Undercard
Rising Japanese super featherweight prospect, Reito Tsutsumi (4-0, 3 KOs) can keep up his recent knockout streak, by becoming the first man to halt Alvino Herrera Meza (18-0-2, 11 KOs).
Ukraine’s 2024 Olympic gold medalist, Oleksandr Khyzhniak (1-0, 1 KO) should stop Lenny Patrach (8-0-1, 5 KOs) at light heavyweight, while Jacob Bank (19-0, 11 KOs) may need the distance to overcome Pawel August (18-0, 7 KOs) in a battle of unbeaten super middleweights.
Super welterweight prospect, Nishant Dev (6-0, 4 KOs) can see off Cesar Diaz (10-2, 5 KOs) on points and super flyweight, Mikie Tallon (14-0, 3 KOs) should do the same against Orlando Pino (17-3, 11 KOs).
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Welterweight Ziyad Almaayouf (7-1-1, 1 KO) can bounce back from a first professional loss last time out by outpointing Frank Lucian Mango (8-1, 5 KOs) and Saudi Arabian lightweight hope, Mohammed Alakel (8-0, 2 KOs) should also win on points against Lydon Chircop (8-4, 4 KOs).
Sultan Almohammed (4-0, 3 KOs) can stop Efren Besalduch (3-3-1, 1 KO) in their super featherweight battle and Egyptian super middleweight, Omar Hikal (1-0, 1 KO) can win his second professional bout by stoppage against Brian Castellano (2-1).
Fellow Egyptian, Mohamed Mabrouk Yehya (1-0) can secure his first stoppage at super lightweight over Bryan Zapata (5-9-1, 4 KOs).
