Barry Hearn believes Anthony Joshua is heading into his July 25 fight with Kristian Prenga in the strongest mental shape he has seen since the start of the heavyweight’s professional career. That is a notable claim in itself, but it matters even more because Joshua’s recent form has been defined by extremes: a 2024 stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois, followed by a knockout win over Jake Paul in December.
Hearn, who said he has known Joshua since 2012 and that the two have grown very close, was careful to stress both the confidence and the caution that come with boxing at the top level. His point was not that Joshua can take the night for granted. It was that, after a difficult stretch, the fighter looks settled, focused and ready to make the most of the opportunity in Jeddah.
Hearn sees a different kind of Joshua
The promoter’s comments paint Joshua as a man in a better place than the one who came through the aftermath of the Dubois defeat. Hearn said he does not think he has seen Joshua so motivated for the long term, and added that the mood around him suggests a fighter who feels good about himself. That kind of mental stability can matter as much as physical sharpness, especially for a heavyweight whose success often depends on timing, composure and conviction.
Hearn also made the point that boxing can turn quickly. “It takes one punch from a big lad to knock out anyone in the world,” he said, which is a blunt reminder that confidence alone is never enough. Even against an opponent expected to provide rounds rather than a serious threat, Joshua will still need to stay switched on and take his chance when it comes.
Why the Prenga fight still matters
Kristian Prenga may not be the kind of opponent who changes the public perception of Joshua in one night, but that does not make the fight meaningless. In fact, these are often the bouts that tell you whether a top fighter is truly reset after a setback. If Joshua looks sharp, patient and aggressive in the right moments, it will support Hearn’s view that he is in the right place mentally. If he looks flat, the questions will return quickly.
For Hearn, the bigger message is that Joshua is not drifting through this stage of his career. He is approaching the fight with purpose, and in Hearn’s view, with more motivation than he has shown at any point in the 14 years he has known him. That is an encouraging sign for Joshua’s camp, even if the real test still has to be answered under the lights in Jeddah.
The fight itself may not settle every question around Joshua’s future, but it should reveal whether the mindset Hearn described shows up when the bell rings. For a fighter trying to build momentum again, that is not a small detail. It is usually the first one that matters.
