Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury back in the ring, Errol Spence and Tim Tszyu try to stay in the game

Anthony Joshua returns to the ring this Saturday night for the first time since knocking out promoter (and fighter) Jake Paul last year.

His opponent is Kristian Prenga, winner of 20 of 21 fights.

The fight is a warm-up for the upcoming mega-fight with Tyson Fury in the fall.

Fury fights the night before against one Mariusz Wach, whose claim to fame is going the distance against heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko back in 2012. The man is 46 and last fought four months ago, losing a decision to Viktor Vykhryst. Moses Itauma also stopped him two years ago in the second stanza. There appears to be no danger for Fury unless Wach is packing.

Prenga appears to have a slight chance against Joshua. Appearances can be misleading, though.

His record (20-1, 20 knockouts) looks good. The only name I could find on his record is journeyman Joey Dawejko. Prenga won by stoppage in round five. He’s 6’5″, an inch shorter than Joshua. He can jab a little, and I watched some film of him stopping his opponent with a body shot.

The big guy thinks he’s being underestimated, and he’s probably right.

“I’m happy because they have underestimated me.” Pregna said in an article on boxingnews24.com last week.

Prenga is well aware of who Joshua could be fighting next.

“I’m going to break his plan,” replied Prenga.

Confidence is good; reality can bite.

It’s doubtful Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn thinks the fight is much of a risk for Joshua, but you really never know.

The former two-time heavyweight champion has been stopped twice in his 33-fight professional career.

I see Joshua winning within six rounds.

Now let’s talk about a real, I think, competitive fight.

Former champions Errol Spence and Tim Tszyu throw hands this Saturday in Oz (Australia).

Spence,36, hasn’t fought since Terrence Crawford gave him a country whipping in 2023. Spence lost every round.

The referee stopped the fight in the ninth round. Most thought Spence had retired, but he announced a comeback earlier in the year. He also fired his long-time trainer, the well-respected Derrick James.  That shocked many.

Spence hooked up with long-time trainer Ronnie Shields several months ago. He recently told yardbreaker.com (via The Ring Magazine) how much he’s enjoying his training camp and threw shade on former trainer James.

“I’ve been feeling good. Training hard. Super focused. I’ve been listening to my coach, Ronnie Shields, and leaving no stone unturned. I love Ronnie’s style. Love how he implements game plans. It’s been night and day from [previous] fights that l’ve had.”

Tszyu, 31, sacked his team (for the second time) after winning two fights in a row, choosing Australian legend Jeff Fenech to train and manage him. Reports also indicate that Tszyu brought in Fenech to work with him on his inside game. Tszyu likes to stay outside and box, clipping opponents with counter shots. He’s not a big puncher, a sharper one.

Spence punches harder, having halted 22 of 28 opponents.

But it’s been eight years since he won a fight by knockout.

And the question is: what does he have left?

This is a big bout for both fighters.

Oddsmakers have made Spence a slight favorite.

Whoever loses this fight will probably retire.