Kristian Prenga’s Manager Explains Reason for Loss, Calls Out ‘Sausage’ Tyson Fury [Exclusive]

Kristian Prenga almost shocked the world during his sensational two-round firefight with Anthony Joshua.

Prenga dropped the former two-time unified heavyweight champion twice in the opening round before finding himself on the wrong side of a devastating Joshua right hand in the second.

Instead, Joshua (30-4, 27 KOs) survived the first-round onslaught and stopped Prenga at 2:43 of the second round in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Prenga appeared shocked at the damage he had done to “AJ” following the opening round. Many commentators noted it at the time as well.

Kristian Prenga was sick ahead of Joshua fight

In an exclusive interview with KO on SI, his manager, Keith Sullivan, explained there was something else impacting Prenga and the look on his face.

“I told everyone he would shock the world, and he did,” Sullivan said. “He has tremendous raw power in both hands. He hit the wall after round one. He was sick for two weeks before the fight.”

Sullivan has said Prenga suffered a 102-degree fever and spent eight days bedridden before the bout. The illness prevented him from training properly during the final two weeks of camp.

That helps explain the dramatic change between rounds. Prenga attacked Joshua relentlessly during the opening three minutes but looked like a different fighter after returning to his corner.

Joshua, an Olympic gold medalist, made adjustments. He increased the pressure before landing the pulverizing right hand that ended the contest. The result preserved Joshua’s proposed megafight with Tyson Fury, but it also raised questions about what might come next for Prenga.

Joshua entered the fight as an overwhelming favorite, with Prenga widely presented as a tune-up opponent before the long-awaited “Battle of Britain.” Instead, the unfancied Albanian came within one punch of obliterating those plans.

Joshua and Fury are expected to meet in November, although the location remains unsettled. New York’s Madison Square Garden has emerged as a possible host, with Thanksgiving weekend discussed as a potential date.

Kristian Prenga IN TEARS AS HE LEAVES Arena after dropping Anthony Joshua 3 times in round 1 pic.twitter.com/Q2eMmTKaCk
— Boxing King Media (@boxingkingmedia) July 25, 2026

Wach for Prenga?

When KO on SI suggested matching Prenga with Mariusz Wach, Fury’s most recent opponent, Sullivan dismissed the idea and identified a much more ambitious target.

“We are considering all options, but I’d like him to fight Tyson Fury next,” Sullivan said. “I’d love to see him fight that sausage Fury!”

The matchup is unlikely to happen immediately. Fury’s attention remains fixed on Joshua and the enormous payday their rivalry promises. Also, Mariusz Wach just fought six guys in a tag-team match over the weekend.

Nevertheless, Prenga demonstrated that he belongs in significant heavyweight fights. Every one of his 20 professional victories has come by knockout, and against Joshua, he proved his power is very real.

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