Joshua vs Prenga predictions: Heavyweight fight predictions from fighters and pundits

Anthony Joshua returned to the ring on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia against relative unknown Christian Preng, knowing that victory would set up a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury.

Two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist Joshua has won 29 fights – 26 by stoppage – and lost four.

Albanian Prenga enters the fight with an impressive record of his own, having earned all 20 of his wins, including by stoppage, with just one loss.

However, the 35-year-old has never faced anyone close to Joshua’s level.

Relax after fury Polish veteran Mariusz Wach has been sent off On Friday in Thailand, could Joshua come up with his own warm-up match?

This will be Joshua’s first fight since being involved in a car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends, Sina Ghami and Lateef ‘Latz’ Ayodele.

The Fury-Joshua fight has been a decade in the making. With the deal signed, the blockbuster fight is expected to take place later this year.

But can Prenga spoil the party and pull off a massive blow to go down in boxing history as the man who makes Joshua-Fury happen?

Radio commentary from Jeddah will begin approx 20:30 BST on BBC Radio 5 LiveBBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website and app.

Live text commentary will begin 19:30 On the BBC Sport website and app.

BBC Sport spoke to boxing insiders to get predictions for Saturday’s fight.