“The plan for AJ is beat Prenga, beat Tyson Fury, fight for the world heavyweight title,” said Eddie Hearn to IFL TV.
Prenga has quietly built a knockout-heavy record and has recently been linked to several heavyweight fights. Hearn admitted Joshua cannot afford to overlook him despite most fans already focusing on Fury.
“He’s been in the hat for a few heavyweight fights. I think he’s 22 wins, 21 knockouts, something like that,” said Hearn. “Decent fighter. Not an elite world heavyweight, but fringe world level. Dangerous. Can whack.”
Joshua enters the fight with more pressure on him than Prenga. Another poor performance, even in victory, would create fresh doubts after the knockout loss to Daniel Dubois. Prenga, meanwhile, enters the fight with little to lose and the type of opportunity that can completely change his career overnight.
Another question is what version of Joshua shows up under trainer Ben Davison. The aggressive puncher seen against Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul looked very different from the hesitant fighter stopped by Dubois.
Hearn expects Joshua to stop Prenga before the Fury fight moves forward later this year.
“I think he gets sparked out in an exciting fight in the first six rounds,” said Hearn. “And when he does, I’ll be the most relieved man going because you got the Tyson Fury fight and it’s happening in November.”
Hearn also said Fury vs. Joshua is effectively agreed, although both heavyweights still need to win their next bouts first.
“Yeah, all well, it’s all done,” said Hearn about Fury-Joshua. “We’ve just got to win.”
The fight is expected to take place in the UK, with Wembley Stadium and Cardiff both being discussed as possible venues for the heavyweight showdown.
Joshua has not fought since knocking out Jake Paul in the sixth round on December 19, 2025, in Miami, Florida, while Fury has remained inactive following his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
If both heavyweights come through their planned return bouts, their long-delayed fight would still rank among boxing’s biggest events.
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