Barry Hearn has predicted Anthony Joshua will inflict a “very, very painful night” on Kristian Prenga when the heavyweight pair meet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.

The bout marks Joshua’s first fight of 2026 and his first since the December car crash that claimed the lives of two of his close friends. It also serves as a tune-up before his long-awaited clash with Tyson Fury, which has already been signed for November.

Despite Prenga boasting a perfect knockout record in his 20 victories, Joshua enters the contest as the overwhelming favourite to improve his record before facing Fury later this year.

Hearn believes the tragedy Joshua experienced has transformed his mindset and approach to training, revealing the former world champion has pushed himself harder than ever after joining Oleksandr Usyk’s training camp.

“Saturday night, I think it will be a very, very painful night for Mr. Prenga. Good luck to him. I hope he gets well paid,” Hearn told ESPN.

“Coming through that disaster with his friends dying like that, in a bizarre way has given him the feeling that he’s been spared for a purpose.

“He’s thrown himself into his training in an entirely different way. Joining Usyk’s camp… He thought he was working hard. He’s come across Usyk’s camp and gone: ‘Bloody hell’—this is a different world.”

Joshua is expected to use Saturday’s contest as preparation for his blockbuster showdown with Fury, who faces Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday.

While no venue has been confirmed for Joshua versus Fury, Hearn insists the fight belongs in the United Kingdom, although he acknowledged that Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh could ultimately decide to stage it elsewhere.

“Our contract specifies it’s in the UK,” Hearn said.

“But the money they’re getting paid automatically gives a huge amount of power to Turki Alalshikh, who is a fight fan and may have other ideas.

“We’re putting all the pressure on we can for the UK. For me, personally, it’s a fight I’ve been looking forward to.” (Arise News)