Tyson Fury is scheduled to fight veteran Mariusz Wach in Bangkok on Friday, followed by Anthony Joshua's bout against Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Boxing writer Jeff Powell MBE suggests these matchups are largely preparatory, with the opponents unlikely to pose a significant challenge.
Fury's opponent, Wach, is a 45-year-old fighter with a record of 39 wins and 13 defeats. He previously challenged for a world heavyweight title 14 years ago against Wladimir Klitschko, a fight he lost and for which he later failed a drugs test. Wach has since seen his career decline, with his most recent significant defeat being a second-round knockout by Moses Itauma two years ago. Despite this, Wach has a reputation for absorbing punishment, having faced numerous British heavyweights. This particular fight is not being televised globally and is reportedly being saved by Netflix to promote the eventual Fury vs. Joshua bout.
Kristian Prenga, Joshua's opponent, is described as largely unknown outside of Albania and has primarily fought on undercards. While younger than Wach, with 20 knockout wins on his record, his previous opponents are not widely recognized. Prenga has expressed confidence, suggesting Joshua's team has underestimated his knockout power. However, Joshua is a former Olympic gold medalist and two-time world heavyweight champion.
Joshua is reportedly motivated by the recent deaths of two friends in a car crash in Africa, an incident he narrowly survived. He has stated that this fight is "for them."
Following his fight, Fury is expected to travel from Bangkok to Riyadh to attend Joshua's bout. The two British heavyweights are anticipated to face each other in a major event, tentatively scheduled for November. Wembley Stadium has been discussed as a potential venue, contingent on local council approval for a late-night broadcast to accommodate American television audiences.
Fury's fight in Thailand is being staged in a small, screened-off hall, with proceeds from ticket sales reportedly going to local charities. Both Wach and Prenga are expected to receive substantial purses for their roles as opponents.
Fury vs. Wach will be for private screening only, while Joshua vs. Prenga is set to be televised live on DAZN pay-per-view. The highly anticipated clash between Fury and Joshua is expected to be broadcast live by Netflix in early November.