A relaxed Anthony Joshua laughed with reporters, thanked fans for making the trip and even encouraged a sizeable Albanian contingent to bring their "energy" for the British heavyweight's comeback fight in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

Joshua, 36, faces Albanian puncher Kristian Prenga in his first fight since the car crash in Nigeria last December which claimed the lives of two of his closest friends and members of his team, Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele.

Victory would move Joshua to the brink of an all-British heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury, as long as 'The Gypsy King' also wins his warm-up fight against Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday.

"We've been working since January, working hard, keeping my head down and aligning all my stars," Joshua said at Thursday's news conference in Jeddah.

"I'm fully focused. I understand there's a big picture. The goal is to conquer the universe, right? But first we must conquer Earth. And this is my target here."

The Watford fighter stopped Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami just 10 days before the fatal crash.

But Joshua has not beaten an established heavyweight since getting the better of Otto Wallin in December 2023.

Prenga, now based in New Jersey, has won 20 pro bouts by knockout and lost once, but the 35-year-old has not faced anyone close to Joshua's level.

His manager Keith Sullivan described the contest as a "real-life Rocky moment", while Prenga predicted he would win by knockout.

Joshua smiled when asked whether he believed that was possible.

"Can he knock me out? I really don't believe it," Joshua said. "But only God knows that."

Joshua has often presented as a guarded figure during fight weeks, frequently sitting through media duties and offering little.

This time, he appeared noticeably more relaxed. The headphones he regularly wears were gone, he exchanged jokes with the host about wearing a blazer in the sweltering Jeddah heat, and he saluted supporters as he took his seat on stage.

"I've been in the ring with some of the quickest heavyweights, some of the fittest heavyweights. I've fought some of the strongest heavyweights," said Joshua, whose career record shows 29 victories – 26 inside the distance – and four defeats.

"I've fought contenders. I've fought champions. I've been knocked down. I've been knocked out. I stand strong today and I'm ready for the challenge one million per cent."

When an Albanian supporter weighed in with a shout of "You ain't ready", Joshua replied: "We're going to find out on Saturday and I want to hear your voice shouting. I want that energy in the ring."

Talk inevitably turned to Fury, who is expected to fly to Jeddah from Thailand on Friday.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said there are "many, many more chapters to write" in Joshua's career, beginning with the long-awaited meeting with Fury, which is mooted to take place later this year.

Joshua accepted the media's interest but gently batted questions away.

"We don't want to talk about Tyson Fury," he said. "Respectfully, I've done all the media I can about what the future holds. Our focus is [Prenga] and his team.

"Let's focus on the job. Anyone can be there on Saturday. The more tickets sold, the better." (BBC)

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