Things you didn’t know about Kristian Prenga
Who is Kristian Prenga?
It was announced that Anthony Joshua will make his highly anticipated return to the ring on Saturday, July 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, live worldwide on DAZN PPV.
The Olympic gold medallist and former two-time unified heavyweight world champion from Lomdon will headline “The Comeback” as part of the Esports World Cup Festival against knockout artist Kristian Prenga in a heavyweight showdown.
But who is the powerful Prenga? GBN found out a whole host of facts about the Albanian KO king below:
Facts about Kristian Prenga
Kristian Prenga was born on January 24, 1991 in Orosh, Mirdite, Albania, a small, mountainous village in the northwest of the Republic of Albania.
He now resides in Edgewater, New Jersey, USA.
Prenga proudly admits that he had a very happy childhood. He learned how to drive a truck when he was just eight-years-old to help his father work in the nearby mountains.
Now 35, he started boxing after going to the gym to lose weight.
He started as a kick boxer and turned professionally in boxing with no prior amateur experience. He won the IKBF European heavyweight title during his kickboxing career.
He is managed by Keith Sullivan of Sullivan Management from America.
His boxing nickname is “The Eagle”.
His pro debut in May 2016 lasted just 4 minutes 29 seconds, scoring a second-round stoppage over 49-fight veteran Pavel Siska in Munich, Germany.
Prenga suffered an early setback in the fifth fight of his career when he suffered a points deduction and ultimately a points defeat to Dutch journeyman Giovanni Auriemma in 2017.
The biggest win of his career so far was against American gatekeeper Joey Dawejko. He won by stoppage in the fifth round after Dawejko complained about a bicep injury.
He won the vacant NABA (North American Boxing Association) heavyweight title in March 2023, with a third-round knockout of Samuel Crossed in March 2023 in Atlantic City. Previous champions of the NABA belt include Michael Moorer, Samuel Peter, Shannon Briggs, Shawndell Terell Winters, Arslanbek Makhmudov.
He has scored seven first-round KOs and seven second-round KOs. He has won every single one of his 20 victories by KO, needing only 53 of a scheduled 134 rounds to finish his fights.
He has defeated 16 opponents with winning records.
The popular Albanian has become of the best ticket sellers in New Jersey.
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Prenga has fought in Germany, America, Netherlands, Canada, Colombia. His next fight with AJ in Saudi Arabia will be the sixth different country he has fought in as a pro.
He is ranked Albania’s second best heavyweight behind Nelson Hysa, who is 24-0 with 22 KOs.
He is very proud to represent his country, Albania, and wears a red and black fight kit, which symbolizes bravery, strength, valour and the bloodshed of those that fought for the independence of the sovereign state of Albania.
He stands at 6ft 5in (196 cm).
Kristian has met Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis and counts both as his boxing heroes.
Prenga aims to become a world heavyweight champion. He recently told BoxingScene: “I don’t only want to be the greatest heavyweight from Albania. What I really want is to be the heavyweight champion of the world. That’s what I’m working on, but it’s not what I talk about, as that is not my style. I just work hard in the gym and how I live outside the gym to achieve this goal.”
Kristian is a car enthusiast and drives a red Pontiac Firebird with an Albanian eagle symbol on the bonnet.
His American licence plate spells, ‘Mirdit’, which is the name of the region in Albania he grew up in.
He is a fan of Mel Gibson films and even got to meet the American actor in 2018.
He likes to holiday as often as he can, visiting places like Jamaica, London, Kosovo, Florida, Milan, Ontario.
Kristian is a devout Catholic, who puts his faith in God above all else.
What have they said?
Joshua: “It’s no secret I’ve taken some time to consolidate and rebuild to be ready for stepping back into the ring and today is the next step on that journey. I’m delighted to have agreed a multi-fight deal starting with July 25th in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“I’m looking forward to competing and picking up where I left off. As I said. The landlord will collect his rent. That is certain.”
Prenga: “Anthony Joshua is a great fighter, but he made a terrible miscalculation in picking me as his opponent. This is the kind of fight that changes everything in my life and his.
“I know they have big plans ahead after this fight. I know they are overlooking me. I’m happy about that. I will derail their plans and shock the world this July in Saudi Arabia.”
