Joshua fully focused on Prenga as blockbuster Fury bout lies in wait

[p]Both [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fury-tyson/MDZyQvA1/"]Fury[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/joshua-anthony/WnlqLAvo/"]Joshua[/a] are back in the ring this week for bouts against Poland's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wach-mariusz/xUUBfNMH/"]Mariusz Wach[/a] and Albania's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/prenga-kristian/MuK3jJLa/"]Prenga[/a], respectively, that are seen as must-win warm-up fights if their 'Battle of Britain' is to go ahead.[/p][p]Fury, 37, faces Wach in the Thai resort of Pattaya on Friday in what is effectively a charity contest, with no live broadcast, while compatriot Joshua, 36, is in action the following day in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.[/p][p]But Joshua told reporters in Jeddah late on Thursday: [b]"Look, respect my opponent here. We don't want to talk about Tyson Fury. Respectfully, I have done all the media that I can about what the future holds but you know our focus is him and his team.[/b][/p][p][b]"We have been working since January, working hard, keeping my head down, aligned all my stars and I am fully focused. I understand there is a big picture. The goal is to conquer the universe, right? But first we must conquer earth. My target is here."[/b][/p][embed guid="b875a4f2-7363-468d-9508-b9f67af97998" url="https://x.com/ringmagazine/status/2080349583901639119?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Two-time heavyweight champion Joshua's bout with Prenga will be his first professional fight since being involved in a car crash in Nigeria in December that killed two of his close friends, Latif 'Latz' Ayodele and Sina Ghami.[/p][p]After the accident, there was doubt over whether Joshua would box again but promoter Eddie Hearn reached an agreement with Fury's camp for a bout that will only take place following this warm-up clash with Prenga.[/p][p][b]"When you speak to me about what may lay ahead or I sit down in an office with Eddie and he presents to me what may lay ahead, it is a great opportunity for me to understand where this checkpoint takes me and what it leads me on to,"[/b] Joshua said.[/p][p][b]"The reality of the matter is there is no universe, there is no future unless I get past this checkpoint on Saturday night."[/b][/p]