Kristian Prenga denies fight fixing allegations after Joshua loss

Kristian Prenga has denied allegations that he fixed his fight against Anthony Joshua. In his first interview since the knockout defeat, the Albanian fighter dismissed conspiracy theories regarding the outcome of the bout.

Addressing questions about potential bribes, Prenga stated that he is not for sale. He argued that he would earn more money by winning the fight than by selling it. He maintained that his performance was not a result of a conspiracy.

The fight saw Prenga drop the two-time unified world heavyweight champion in the first 30 seconds. Despite entering the match as a significant underdog, Prenga pressured Joshua and floored him a second time in the final seconds of the opening round. However, Joshua secured a knockout victory in the second round.

Prenga attributed the loss to a change in tactics rather than anything illicit. He noted that he attempted to box technically behind his jab instead of maintaining his early aggression. He believes he could have finished the fight if he had continued his initial pace.

During the second round, Prenga's corner instructed him to remain calm and focus on his breathing. This advice led him to move away from the aggressive style that had put Joshua in trouble. Prenga has not yet discussed these specific instructions with his trainer.

The victory for Joshua sets up a fight against Tyson Fury later this year. Prenga has remained quiet since the match, aside from one statement on Instagram regarding his feelings after the defeat.