Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga: Briton embraces comeback spotlight before fight in Saudi Arabia

A relieved Anthony Joshua laughed along with reporters, thanked fans for making the trip and even encouraged a large Albanian contingent to bring their “energy” to the British heavyweight’s comeback fight in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

Joshua, 36, will face Albanian puncher Kristian Prenga in his first fight since the car crash in Nigeria last December that killed his best friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.

If the ‘Gypsy King’ also wins his warm-up fight against Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday, victory will put Joshua on the brink of an all-British heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury.

“We have been working since January, working hard, keeping my head down and keeping all my stars aligned,” Joshua said at a press conference in Jeddah on Thursday.

“I’m completely focused. I understand there’s a big picture. The goal is to conquer the universe, right? But first we have to conquer Earth. And that’s my goal here.”