Bookmakers have him listed as a heavy underdog, with his victory paying 10-to-1, but Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga isn’t paying any attention to the odds. Instead, he believes he has everything it takes to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the year when he faces Anthony Joshua this Saturday at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to The Ring, Prenga admitted he was surprised when he learned he had been selected to fight AJ. However, he added that he didn’t accept the bout blindly, instructing his manager to make sure he received the right purse for a fight of this magnitude.
The Albanian also explained that he feels ready to face one of the biggest names in the heavyweight division. He attributed his confidence to his punching power and athleticism, qualities he believes make him a dangerous opponent for anyone and will allow him to knock Joshua out.
Prenga knows he is widely viewed as nothing more than a tune-up opponent ahead of the proposed all-British showdown between Joshua and Tyson Fury, but he doesn’t see that as disrespect. Here’s what he had to say:
“[I’m] not insulted, I understand, but he made a big mistake picking me. After I stop Joshua, maybe I can replace him as the Fury opponent. This is going to change my life when I shock the world.”