Some members of Kristian Prenga’s camp believe the heavyweight outsider is capable of producing one of the biggest surprises of the year when he faces Anthony Joshua on Saturday night.
However, former world champion Barry McGuigan has dismissed those hopes, insisting the only real shock will be how quickly Prenga feels Joshua’s power once the opening exchanges begin.
Prenga Faces Biggest Test of His Career
Standing at 6ft 5in, Prenga possesses the size expected of a modern heavyweight, but McGuigan believes his physical attributes alone will not be enough against a fighter of Joshua’s calibre.
While acknowledging that Prenga has a solid jab and respectable hand speed, McGuigan argued that the challenger lacks the movement, experience and overall quality needed to trouble one of boxing’s biggest names.
In his assessment, Prenga has yet to prove he can compete with elite opposition and has not faced anyone close to Joshua’s level during his professional career.
Comparisons With Joshua’s Previous Defeats Rejected
Some observers have pointed to Joshua’s defeats against Andy Ruiz Jr., Daniel Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk as reasons to believe another upset could be possible.
McGuigan disagrees, arguing those contests provide little indication of what to expect this weekend.
He noted that Joshua had moments of control against both Ruiz and Dubois before being caught by decisive punches, while his losses to Usyk came against one of the finest technical heavyweights of his generation.
For that reason, he believes Prenga should not expect history to repeat itself.
Joshua’s Power Expected to Make the Difference
According to McGuigan, there is a significant difference between facing ordinary professional fighters and stepping into the ring with an elite heavyweight puncher.
He suggested that once Prenga experiences Joshua’s right hand, the contest could quickly change, adding that there is nothing in the challenger’s record to suggest he can withstand that level of power.
Questions Raised Over Joshua’s Recent Activity
Prenga’s supporters have highlighted Joshua’s limited activity as a possible advantage.
The former unified world champion has fought only once in the past 22 months, defeating Jake Paul in his most recent outing.
Joshua also enters the contest after enduring personal tragedy following the deaths of two close friends in a car accident last December, leading some to question whether those circumstances could affect his performance.
McGuigan Expects Joshua to Stay Focused
Despite those concerns, McGuigan believes Joshua’s professionalism will ensure he remains fully focused once the opening bell rings.
He described Joshua as an experienced prizefighter capable of separating personal emotions from his work inside the ring, particularly when a major opportunity lies ahead.
With bigger fights potentially waiting, McGuigan believes Joshua understands the importance of delivering an impressive victory.
Tyson Fury Clash Remains the Bigger Target
Looking beyond Saturday night, attention continues to centre on the long-discussed showdown between Joshua and Tyson Fury.
McGuigan expects Joshua to dispatch Prenga convincingly before turning his focus toward a potential November meeting with Fury, a contest many boxing fans have been waiting years to see.
In his view, Saturday’s fight is simply another step toward that blockbuster event, with Joshua heavily favoured to end the evening by adding another knockout victory to his record.
