Sweat poured off the ropes in Saudi Arabia as Anthony Joshua climbed off the canvas twice in a chaotic opening round against Kristian Prenga. Just three minutes later, the Watford heavyweight flattened his opponent in the second round to cap a dramatic comeback. Observing closely from the sidelines, former undisputed heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk took to social media to celebrate his former rival's resilience and back him for a blockbuster showdown against Tyson Fury.
What People Are Searching For
Boxing fans across the UK are closely tracking Usyk's evolving role in Joshua's career following their joint training sessions ahead of Joshua's July 25 clash in Jeddah. After seeing Joshua floored twice in 20 seconds by Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga, supporters are questioning whether Usyk's tactical influence and conditioning methods have genuinely elevated Joshua's performance or exposed persistent defensive vulnerabilities.
What Is Confirmed
Usyk and Joshua developed a close working relationship after the Ukrainian outpointed Joshua in 2021 and 2022. Ahead of the Prenga fight, Joshua integrated members of Usyk's team into his setup to revamp his conditioning routine. Speaking about the camp, Joshua revealed:
Their conditioning is supreme. We're not talking about just doing S&C and circuits in the gym for the sake of it. We're talking about boxing conditioning.
The joint preparation faced an immediate test in Jeddah when Joshua survived two first-round knockdowns before securing a second-round stoppage. Following the victory, Usyk posted a public message of support on Instagram, stating,
@anthonyjoshua, what an incredible fight! This is exactly the comeback everyone was waiting for. A dominant second round KO victory. Congratulations, bro!
Usyk also delivered a firm prediction for the proposed domestic clash between Joshua and Tyson Fury, stating he expects Joshua to win by knockout inside 6 rounds. Comparing the two British heavyweights based on his 24 rounds shared with both, Usyk observed that Fury operates as an unpredictable street fighter, whereas Joshua adheres to a classic boxing style.
What Is Unconfirmed
The exact date and financial structure for a potential Joshua against Fury bout remain unconfirmed by promoters. While Fury completed seven rounds against 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in Thailand, official negotiations for an all-British clash later this year have not yielded signed contracts.
The Bigger Picture
The alliance between former opponents highlights a rare dynamic at the elite level of heavyweight boxing. Having conquered both Joshua and Fury, Usyk's tactical input gives Joshua a distinct blueprint should the British rivalry finally materialize in the ring. The victory over Prenga also marked a pivotal personal milestone for Joshua, who earned approximately £4 million in his first professional appearance following a tragic car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends.
Latest Status
Joshua has successfully cleared his comeback obstacle against Prenga, earning high praise from Usyk's camp. Both Joshua and Fury have now completed their warm-up assignments, placing the long-awaited British heavyweight clash back at the forefront of boxing negotiations for late 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What did Oleksandr Usyk say about Anthony Joshua's fight with Kristian Prenga?
- Usyk congratulated Joshua on Instagram, describing the victory as an incredible fight and praising his dominant second-round knockout performance after overcoming early knockdowns.
- What is Usyk's prediction for Joshua vs Tyson Fury?
- Usyk predicted that Anthony Joshua will defeat Tyson Fury by knockout within six rounds, citing Joshua's explosive power and improved technical approach.
- Why did Anthony Joshua train with Usyk's team?
- Joshua sought to overhaul his boxing-specific conditioning and mental preparation, adopting Usyk's rigorous training methods to prepare for high-pressure fights.
- How did Anthony Joshua perform against Kristian Prenga?
- Joshua was knocked down twice in the first round in Jeddah before rallying to knock out Prenga in the second round.