Boxing
Can hard-hitting Prenga become latest man to knock Joshua down?
Joshua vs. Prenga: Only on DAZN PPV - Saturday
Kristian Prenga will hope to buck some major odds on Saturday night when he faces off with Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia.
The Albanian, a relative unknown at the heavyweight high table, has been hand-picked for the star at the Jeddah Superdome.
With a super-bout against Tyson Fury just on the horizon, Joshua hopes his first bout of 2026 will prove to be straightforward.
But in the biggest clash of his career thus far, Prenga will be determined to ensure he does not have an easy ride in the ring.
What has changed to create AJ 2.0?
Watch: Joshua explains the improvements he has made in his life
BUY NOW HERE: Joshua vs. Prenga PPV for £19.99 / $59.99 or included in DAZN's Ultimate Tier subscription
Even if he cannot manage to get the better of Joshua, he can still hope to give him a scare - with a blockbuster knockdown.
So, could Prenga join a rare band who have left 'AJ' on the canvas throughout his career thus far? DAZN News investigates.
How many times has Joshua been knoked down?
Joshua has been dropped nine times across his career by three men - including on four occasions each in two different bouts.
The first time the star was felled came in his legendary bout with Wladimir Klitschko, where he was felled by his foe in the sixth.
'AJ' recovered to score his biggest career win to date - but was not so fortunate in his other pair of fights where he came up short.
Against Andy Ruiz Jr., he was dropped twice in the third and then emphatically twice again in the seventh for a first pro defeat.
Then, Daniel Dubois left him splayed on the canvas four times too, in the first, third, fourth and fifth rounds at Wembley Stadium.
What can Prenga learn from those moments?
Established as a knockout merchant, the Albanian will nevertheless have studied where Joshua went wrong before they meet.
What he might find could prove counter-intuitive though. The Briton has had a reputation for a glass jaw foisted on him by rivals.
(Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
That isn't the cleanest assessment. In his loss to Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua proved durable in defence and weathered his foe well.
With Klitschko, a swift recovery helped him wrestle back control. It was the rapid attacks from Ruiz and Dubois that undid him.
Prenga will therefore see the pattern - and know that if he is to button Joshua down on the canvas, he will need to press hard too.
Will Prenga be able to knock down Joshua?
Most heavyweights will tell you that anyone has a puncher's chance in the heavyweight division, and Joshua-Prenga is no different.
With a relentless stoppage record, the Albanian may well possess more than that too against a rival who may show some ring-rust.
But that would also be to dismiss Joshua and his team's prepartations ahead of what is ultimately a critical test of his staying power.
The former will be keen for a statement performance that tees up his bout with Fury and leaves no doubts that he can still compete.
Combine that with pace and experience, and Prenga may find himself on the back foot too soon to really see if he can test his foe.
Joshua vs. Prenga - exclusively on DAZN PPV
Watch Anthony Joshua's hugely anticipated return to the ring versus Kristian Prenga on Saturday, July 25 only on DAZN PPV. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with Itauma vs. Hrgovic and Canelo vs. Mbilli PPVs, with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
