Anthony Joshua told BBC Sport he is focused and confident ahead of his upcoming fight with Kristian Prenga, calling the bout a necessary step as he chases bigger goals, including a belief that he can beat Tyson Fury and become undisputed.
In a BBC Sport video appearance alongside promoter Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing chief executive Frank Smith, Joshua set out a measured fight plan while also making a bold claim about the top of the heavyweight division. The BBC clip shows Anthony Joshua with Matchroom representatives; the segment is presented by BBC Sport and is linked below.
Watch the BBC Sport video: AJ, Hearn & Smith talk Prenga, Fury and becoming undisputed champion
Anthony Joshua on Prenga fight
Anthony Joshua described Kristian Prenga as an opponent who will help him rebuild timing and ring sharpness. He framed the fight as a planned step — not the end goal — intended to test fundamentals and keep him active while bigger plans are shaped.
Joshua emphasised focus on preparation and on executing measured rounds rather than trading bravado. That emphasis underlines a typical veteran approach: use a credible opponent to work on specific elements of performance without taking unnecessary risks.
Team view: Hearn and Frank Smith
Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith joined Joshua in the interview to outline promotional plans. They stressed commercial and logistical priorities: announcing dates, securing broadcast interest and selling tickets to rebuild momentum.
Their remarks reflected Matchroom Boxing’s role in steering the public narrative around the bout. As promoters, Hearn and Smith naturally highlighted the marketability and strategic timing of the fight — a perspective that mixes competitive assessment with business aims.
Readers should note the promotional bias in those comments: Matchroom representatives are speaking for a campaign designed to maximise attention and revenue around Joshua’s return.
Claim on beating Tyson Fury and the undisputed champion talk
Joshua stated he believes he can beat Tyson Fury and reach the status of undisputed champion. He presented this as his ambition and conviction rather than as a confirmed outcome.
To be clear: the term “undisputed champion” means holding all major world titles at the same time. That goal involves multiple practical hurdles — from aligning different governing bodies’ timelines and mandatory challengers to negotiating agreements between rival teams — so talk of becoming undisputed is inherently speculative.
Experts and pundits typically treat public claims about unifying belts as aspirational unless there are concrete, signed agreements or scheduled fights that make the route explicit. Joshua’s statement belongs in that aspirational category: it signals intent and confidence, but it does not remove the many logistical and sporting obstacles that remain.
What comes next for the build-up
In the short term, expect Matchroom to follow a familiar promotional playbook: confirm a fight date and venue, announce undercard names, schedule media appearances and push ticketing and broadcast deals. Those steps will drive the tempo of the build-up.
For fans, the concrete signs to watch are match confirmations, press conferences and official fight posters. The team did not set a strict timeline in the BBC segment; final details will depend on Matchroom’s negotiations and regulatory clearances.
Operational priorities — such as medical clearances, contractual terms and broadcast windows — typically shape when a fight is publicly locked in. Joshua’s management and Matchroom will balance those requirements with the desire to generate early momentum.
Key takeaways
Anthony Joshua is treating Kristian Prenga as a stepping-stone in a wider comeback strategy that, in his view, could lead to the biggest possible prize: beating Tyson Fury and becoming undisputed. Eddie Hearn and Frank Smith framed the bout in commercial and promotional terms, underlining Matchroom Boxing’s role in shaping the narrative.
Crucially, Joshua’s claim about Fury and undisputed status should be read as aspirational and speculative rather than a forecast; unifying the heavyweight titles requires complex negotiations and alignment among multiple parties.
Frequently asked questions
When is Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga?
Joshua and his team discussed the matchup in the BBC Sport video, but no firm date was announced during that segment. Official timing and venue details usually follow a Matchroom announcement.
What did Eddie Hearn and Frank Smith say about the fight?
Both emphasised the fight’s role in rebuilding Joshua’s momentum and highlighted Matchroom Boxing’s plans around promotion, ticketing and broadcast interest. Their comments reflected a promotional perspective and the commercial aims of the build-up.
Is Joshua likely to beat Tyson Fury and become undisputed?
Joshua expressed confidence that he can beat Tyson Fury. However, becoming undisputed requires unifying titles and navigating mandatory challengers, sanctioning body rules and high-level negotiations, so the claim should be seen as aspirational and speculative rather than certain.
Source: BBC Sport — AJ, Hearn & Smith talk Prenga, Fury and becoming undisputed champion
