Anthony Joshua will fight Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia tonight, in a warm-up for his long-awaited clash with Tyson Fury.
Heavyweight star Joshua takes on Albanian unknown Prenga at Jeddah Superdome, one day after Fury’s bizarre, non-televised warm-up against Mariusz Wach in Thailand – which the “Gypsy King” won via seventh-round TKO.
Joshua, 36, last fought in December, stopping YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in six rounds, 10 days before surviving a fatal car crash in Nigeria, which claimed the lives of two of his teammates.
Should Joshua win here, he will share a ring with fellow Briton Fury later this year, potentially at Wembley Stadium in November – provided the ring walks begin at 2am GMT, according to Saudi matchmaker Turki Alalshikh.
Follow live updates and results from Joshua vs Prenga, below.
Michael Buffer begins the introductions
You know it’s time for the main event when they wheel out Michael Buffer. He announces that Kristian Prenga is en route to the ring, prompting a big graphic with the Albanian flag to fill the screens.
Joshua-Prenga ring walks imminent
We’re not waiting around in Jeddah – we’re expecting the ring walks for the main event in the next 10 minutes. Can AJ make quick work of the unknown Prenga?
Spencer Brown: Fury will not be in attendance
Spencer Brown, manager of Tyson Fury maintains that his fighter will not be physically in attendance – but he will “be here in spirit.”
No face-off after the main event?
Sheeraz found it hard to stayed switched on against Zachenhuber
WBO super middleweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz speaks to DAZN – stating that he was unmotivated by the calibre of opponent he faced.
He shared: “I got the win and that’s all that matters. I could make a million excuses. I just need to step up. I was switching off at times. I was getting too comfortable. Hopefully we can get a big fight. Any of the champions. Jacob Bank deserves his shot at the title.”
Sheeraz vs Zachenhuber: Sheeraz clings onto world title with majority decision win
And the judges have it at: 114-114, 115-113, 116-112. Hamzah Sheeraz is your majority decision winner, but the judges must have been impressed by Zachenhuber’s intent and ability to find a second wind every round.
Sheeraz clings onto his WBO super middleweight world title.
Sheeraz vs Zachenhuber: Subdued Sheeraz looks likely to retain his crowd
And that’s the end of the co-main event, the chief support. Hopefully Anthony Joshua and Kristian Prenga produce more action than Sheeraz and Zachenhuber.
Zachenhuber never looked properly troubled, even if at times outclassed. After two strong performances following his controversial draw with Carlos Adames, this was Sheeraz slipping back to his tamer ways. To the judges’ scorecards we go.
Sheeraz vs Zachenhuber: Crowd baying for action
The crowd in Jeddah are not pleased by this display from a crowd favourite in Sheeraz. Neither fighter opening up as we approach the final bell.
Sheeraz vs Zachenhuber: Final round begins
Zachenhuber surely needs a knockout to win this, whilst Sheeraz will perhaps look to finish a subdued performance with a strong finish.
The opening minute is once again cagey, with neither fighter showing their hand. Zachenhuber has some success through the guard with a combo, but he’s not truly troubling Sheeraz.
Sheeraz vs Zachenhuber:
Zachenhuber starts this round brightly, perhaps knowing he has to get a knockout or a few knockdown to win this one. Inside the first minute he has a few nice combinations, which doesn’t immediately draw Sheeraz into returning fire. Looks like we will be heading to the cards after round 12 at this rate…
Sheeraz vs Zachenhuber: Cagey final rounds inbound?
Sheeraz received praise from his corner after the last round, but he does not continue in the same vein immediately in the 10th verse. In fact, the round never really gets going, with transactions reduced to very little.
