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SportsHearn: 'Ferocious' Joshua primed to cause Prenga 'an awful lot of pain'
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Matchroom president Barry Hearn has stated that Anthony Joshua has adopted a 'ferocious' mindset ahead of his comeback fight against Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia this Saturday. Hearn told Sky Sports News that Joshua, who has not fought since knocking out Jake Paul in December and survived a car crash that killed two friends, is in the best shape he has seen in 14 years. Joshua has been training with former undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk. Hearn warned that Joshua is motivated to put on a show and cause Prenga 'an awful lot of pain'. Meanwhile, negotiations continue for a long-awaited all-British showdown with Tyson Fury, which Hearn hopes will take place at Wembley Stadium, calling it the biggest heavyweight contest of his lifetime.
Source report
Anthony Joshua has adopted a "ferocious" mindset ahead of his comeback fight against Kristian Prenga and is primed to "cause an awful lot of pain," according to Matchroom president Barry Hearn.
Negotiations continue around a long-awaited all-British showdown with Tyson Fury, but Joshua must first hold up his end of the bargain by beating Prenga in Saudi Arabia this Saturday.
Joshua has not fought since knocking out YouTuber Jake Paul in December. The two-time heavyweight world champion has had an extended period away from the ring after surviving a car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his friends.
Joshua's Training and Mindset
The 36-year-old has been training alongside former undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk. Hearn, who has been associated with Joshua since his 2012 breakthrough, has warned he has never seen him more dialled in.
"AJ looks in the shape of his life. He's been training at Usyk's camp. He's tremendously motivated, not just to win but to put on a show." — Barry Hearn to Sky Sports News
"Prenga is dangerous, we don't know too much about him, but Joshua is a ferocious animal at the moment, and you'll see a ferocious animal in there."
"Don't blink, look for fireworks. AJ is not taking anything for granted, he knows he's got a job to do, and he will be ruthlessly efficient. He's in the mood to cause an awful lot of pain on Saturday."
Hearn added:
"AJ is in an amazing place at the moment. I don't think I've seen him look better than this in the 14 years I've known him or look so motivated for the long term."
"Some of that has been fuelled by that tragic accident, but he's now talking about the next three years in the ring. A year ago, we were talking about potentially two fights and then going off into a happy retirement."
Fury vs Joshua: Wembley Hopes
It may have been a decade in the making, but Hearn believes Joshua vs Fury will be the biggest heavyweight contest held in his lifetime when it finally arrives — and hopes it takes place at Wembley.
"We'd love it at Wembley, that's what we're fighting for. It's a global fight, but we think this is a fight for British fans predominantly."
"The British fans have been very patient. They've put up with 10 years of waiting for this, so we're hoping they'll stick with the terms in AJ's contract, which specify the fight must take place in the UK."
Related Links
- Tyson Fury to fight Mariusz Wach in Thailand
- Fury vs Joshua: Mayor of London supports Wembley ambitions
- Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW
Barry Hearn backs Anthony Joshua to beat Tyson Fury when the British rivals finally meet later this year, insisting Wembley Stadium is the ideal venue for fans.
Source
SkySports | NewsWestern
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Hearn: 'Ferocious' Anthony Joshua primed to cause Kristian Prenga 'an awful lot of pain'