Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga Betting Odds & Fight Preview

Choose your bet on Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga

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The beloved British heavyweight is back. Nearly 8 months have passed since he KO’d Jake Paul, and it’s been close to 2 whole years since his defeat at the hands of ‘DDD’ – Daniel Dubois. This time, Anthony Joshua (AJ) is back with a vengeance, ready to face the Albanian puncher Kristian Prenga on Saturday, 26 July 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The bout is scheduled for 12 rounds, fittingly dubbed ‘The Comeback’ as AJ is obviously eyeing a long-awaited showdown against Tyson Fury.

For Prenga, this is his toughest test yet, by far. In addition, a victory in Riyadh could open a lot of doors for him. In this preview, we’ll break down the Joshua vs Prenga odds, run through both fighters’ recent form and styles, lay out the tale of the tape, and tell you how to watch the fight in the UK!

Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga: Fight Details

• • Date: Saturday, 26 July 2026
  • Time: Ring walks expected late evening, ~10-11 PM BST
  • Location/Venue: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Division: Heavyweight (12 rounds, no weight limit)
  • Broadcast: DAZN PPV

• Betting is available on 7bet.

In recent years, thanks to Turki Alalshikh, Riyadh and Saudi Arabia have become one of, if not the, go-to destinations for big money, highly anticipated boxing fights. Joshua vs Prenga is set to add to the list of blockbusters, though the spotlight on AJ is undeniably brighter than the one shining on his opponent.

For Joshua, this is a comeback fight in every sense — a chance to shake off ring rust, rebuild momentum, and stay on course for a domestic superfight with Tyson Fury, who fights Mariusz Wach the night before. For Prenga, it’s a shot at worldwide recognition. If you’re interested in the full fight night card, you can find information on 7bet’s boxing page.

How Joshua and Prenga Stack Up – Pre-Fight Analysis 

At 36, Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) remains one of the biggest names in world boxing. The Brit is a former two-time unified heavyweight champion and 2012 Olympic gold medallist. Despite being outshone by Daniel Dubois, Tyson Fury and Oleksander Usyk as of late, the 6’6” frame, devastating power, and profile still make AJ probably the biggest UK boxing star, aside from Fury.

Kristian Prenga (20-1, 20 KOs) arrives as the definite underdog, and an unfamiliar name to most of the boxing world. However, he carries a 100% KO ratio, meaning he gets things done inside the distance. The Albanian has promised to “shock the world” and insists the fight won’t reach the later rounds. For Prenga, this is the opportunity of a lifetime, but with much less pressure.

IMPORTANT: Odds are correct at the time of writing, but are subject to change. Always check the latest prices at 7bet Sportsbook, and please gamble responsibly. Odds only reflect implied probabilities set out by the bookmaker and cannot guarantee results or outcomes. 

Fight Winner

This market is the most straightforward and often the most popular pick in boxing betting. Punters back either Joshua or Prenga to win the fight outright. How that victory comes (KO, stoppage, or the judges) does not affect it. Shorter odds point to the implied favourite, while longer odds reveal who’s considered the underdog.

As of now, Joshua is a prohibitive favourite at 1/33, implying a win probability north of 97%. These prices don’t surprise expert pundits, fans or boxing analysts, as all of them consider this Joshua’s fight to lose. He’s the former champ and has a much more impressive resume.

However, just being a heavyweight can sometimes prove to be the great equaliser. Prenga hits hard, and one or two clean shots could flip the whole thing upside down. The Albanian’s 17/2 price reflects a genuine, if slim, puncher’s chance. As we’ve seen, powerful punchers can really hurt AJ. Regardless of what’s said, always do your research before placing any real-money wager.

Method of Victory 

In this market, bettors need to correctly predict two things: the fight winner and how the bout is going to end. Plus, there’s a draw included as a possible outcome. Many people forget that while rare, draws can happen. Bettors can choose one of two options for each athlete (Decision or Technical Decision + KO/TKO or DQ). This market is more specific, so the odds tend to be higher than the straight winner bet, indicating a bigger inherent risk and a higher degree of difficulty. 

Just by glancing at the numbers, everyone can notice that ‘Anthony Joshua by KO / TKO or DQ’ has the shortest odds by far – 1/10. This shows that the market leans towards the fact that the bigger, more proven and more experienced Briton should handle things inside the distance. Despite some high-profile losses, Joshua still carries a staggering 90% KO ratio. 

A Joshua points win drifts out to 6/1, a nod to how few expect this to reach the scorecards. On Prenga’s side, his best hope is unsurprisingly the KO/TKO at 13/1. The Albanian KO artist has a 100% ratio, meaning if he wins, he doesn’t give his opponent a standing chance. His route to victory via the scorecards is considered the least likely outcome.

Will the Fight Go the Distance?

This is a popular binary pick. Back ‘Yes’ if you think that the judges will be needed after 12 rounds or pick ‘No’, if you believe that Prenga can drag Joshua into deep waters and the Championship rounds will conclude without a KO or stoppage. 

At the time of writing this preview, ‘No’ is the heavily favoured pick at 1/10. This reflects the fact that Joshua has much more big-time experience on his belt and carries a 90% KO ratio. In addition, Prenga hasn’t won a fight any other way than knockouts, so when you have 46 out of 49 total combined victories by KO, it’s no surprise that the odds for this are so short.

With Joshua’s finishing pedigree, Prenga’s all-or-nothing style, and the Albanian’s own promise that “it’s not going to go 10 rounds”, an early finish is very much the expected outcome. The ‘Yes’ bet carries a significantly longer price of 11/2.

Other Popular Markets

As the showdown on 25 July approaches, more markets may become available at 7bet. Below is a listed overview for some of the more popular boxing markets that tend to be available at our book before big fights:

• 1×2 – this market introduces a 3rd outcome (the draw) into the Fight Winner binary list. If the bout goes the full 12 rounds and the judges cannot split the fighters, the fight is ruled a draw. While this is extremely rare in heavyweight boxing, 1×2 offers a form of safety net, since you back one of the athletes to win or draw. The odds are shorter than with ‘Fight Winner’, but the bet covers two possible outcomes.
• Round Total (Over/Under) – bettors can wager on whether the fight will last longer (Over) or shorter (Under) than a designated threshold of rounds. Given the KO power on both corners, Joshua vs Prenga odds on the earlier round ‘Under’ markets may show the biggest bet activity. However, punters can usually find plenty of different thresholds with distinct prices to find bets they feel confident in.
• Winner & Exact Round – it’s a longer-odds proposition that combines the Fight Winner selection with a prediction for a specific round. To win, punters need to correctly guess both the winner and the precise round in which the contest ends, meaning a much higher implied risk, but a higher potential reward as well.
• Round Group Betting & Winner – similar to what was listed above, but with more flexibility. Instead of a single round, punters need to pick the winner and the round interval in which they think the bout should finish. For example, Joshua is to win in rounds 1–3. If he KO’s Prenga in R2, the bet wins. There are plenty of different picks, so bettors should be able to find options that suit their risk tolerance and bankroll management.

Now that we have analysed the list of the most popular Joshua vs Prenga odds and markets, it’s time to get to know the fighters up close.

Anthony Joshua – ‘AJ’ (29-4, 26 KOs)

There was a time when ‘AJ’ was on pace to become the biggest British boxing superstar. Few have been able to reach the heights Joshua has. Ever since he won super-heavyweight gold at the London 2012 Olympics, the Watford man’s career has been box-office. The 6’6” punching machine blitzed past early opposition and toppled the legendary Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in 2017 to etch his name into history books. AJ didn’t stop there and became a 2-time unified heavyweight champion of the world, avenging a shocking loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. to claim back the belts he lost.

That was all the way back in 2019, and since then, recent chapters for Joshua have been much tougher. He failed to stay at the top after back-to-back points defeats to Oleksander Usyk. Then came a crushing KO loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024 (AJ’s last high-profile bout to date), which raised some serious questions about his future at the top. However, he managed to restore some pride and got some meme points by comprehensively dismantling Jake Paul. Now 36, and boxing for the first time since the Dubois loss, Joshua needs this win more than ever, as he hopes to have the mega-fight against Fury sometime in the near future.

However, the questions around his chin, stamina and sharpness loom large. If he’s truly back, he has to show it now. 

Anthony Joshua – Last 5 Fights

Kristian Prenga – (20-1, 20 KOs)

Kristian Prenga is a name that had many boxing fans reaching for Google when the bout was first announced. However, his record tells a vivid story – the 35-year-old Albanian will arrive to fight night with a 100% KO ratio and 20 wins from 21 outings. On paper, at least, this proves that the Albanian is able to convert punches into victories at a better rate than Joshua himself.

The caveats are significant, however. Even by lenient standards, Prenga’s previous opposition has been modest. He has never been in a ring against anyone, even in close proximity to Joshua’s pedigree. None of his previous opponents even has a Wikipedia page, and that’s telling. 

No one outside of Prenga’s camp really even gives him a realistic chance, even though the 6’5” giant hasn’t lost a pro bout since 2017. Even with all of this, the Albanian remains bullish, describing himself as “a fighter”, not “just a boxer”, and promising to shock the world. If he can walk the walk and catch AJ off guard 1 or 2 times, that may be enough to keep the former champ honest and turn this PPV bout into a proper spectacle. 

Kristian Prenga – Last 5 Fights

Joshua vs Prenga | Tale of the Tape

How to Watch Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga in the UK?

If you’re interested in Joshua vs Prenga odds or want to watch some high-quality boxing, the bout will be broadcast on DAZN PPV for all UK fans. You can purchase the streaming rights and enjoy the televised event on your Smart TV, mobile or computer. The main event is expected around 11 PM BST, but track the updates from the promoter and DAZN as longer undercard and preliminary fight outings could push things a bit back!

Plus, you can find plenty of markets for all of the Main Card fights for this event at our sportsbook!

FAQ

How Can I Bet on Joshua vs Prenga?

If you’re over 18, sign up for an account, verify your identity and deposit funds at 7bet. If you already have an account, deposit funds and navigate to the betting page. Select the market or the outcome, add it to your betslip, and confirm the stake. Make sure to do it responsibly and follow the odds page as prices can shift in the coming days. You can use Responsible Gaming limits to help you out.

Why is Anthony Joshua Fighting Kristian Prenga?

The bout is designed as a comeback platform for Joshua and a David vs Goliath type of affair for Prenga. It’s a chance for AJ to return to high-profile heavyweight action and shake off ring rust. A win would set his sights on a long-awaited clash against Fury. For Prenga, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to beat a former world champ.

Is This a Title Fight?

Nope, Joshua vs Prenga is a straightforward professional, non-title contest. The significance is what may come next for the Watford man. A convincing win would definitely set the stage for Joshua vs Fury. 

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