Anthony Joshua’s comeback is the ultimate comeback but a risk – Eddie Hearn

Joshua is set for the biggest payday of his career to fight Fury but the latter’s promoter Frank Warren says the fight won’t happen if Joshua loses to Prenga.

“There’s a lot of pressure going into this fight but a lot of questions to be answered,” Hearn said. “Physically, mentally, fighting back and that’s why it’s needed.

“We want the best Anthony Joshua against Tyson Fury. We don’t want a guy who says, ‘Maybe he should have had a warm-up fight – he wasn’t quite ready’.

“We want to be 100% ready for that fight and if he is, he will beat him and he will knock him out.”

He was defeated by Daniel Dubois in his last fight before defeating Joshua Paul, and his last win against a recognized opponent came against Otto Wallin in December 2023.

“100%, I think there’s no doubt about it,” Hearn said when asked if Joshua’s fight against Fury would result in him losing to Prenga. “No doubt, and that’s the risk we take.

“Even before what happened in Nigeria, we were always in this fight. Now that he’s gone through it, if I’m honest, we probably need this fight more.

“Now don’t get me wrong, ultimately the pot of gold versus the risk, it’s a risky sport, especially when you’re fighting a guy that not many people know about, 21 wins with 20 knockouts and nothing to lose.

“We know it’s dangerous, but if you can’t beat that guy, you don’t deserve to be in the ring with Tyson Fury.

“I think that’s a fair assessment with AJ and he understands that as well.

“It’s not about trying to protect the money here – ‘Oh we don’t want to take that fight because if we get beaten we don’t get the money’.

“We have to look good in that fight because we want to beat Tyson Fury. We’re not interested in just taking the money and taking the money.”