Connect with us

Boxing

Anthony Joshua wants Kristian Prenga to hate him

Published

on

Image: Anthony Joshua Wants Kristian Prenga To Hate Him

By actively demanding complete disrespect from Prenga, Joshua is attempting to create an artificial sense of threat. He needs a reason to feel threatened. He’s practically begging Prenga to create a hostile environment because the friction alone will get his adrenaline pumping and force him to take the threat seriously.

This is a psychological tactic of masking the reality of the situation. If he can convince himself that this is a bitter, personal grudge rather than a routine victory meant to lead to a signature Tyson Fury hit, he can motivate himself to do grueling road work and stay locked up during camp.

When you’re a multiple-time heavyweight champion and you’re looking across the stage at someone who is essentially a club fighter who was brought in to provide a safe and sound option for recovery from massive trauma, it’s incredibly hard to find that true competitive fire.

The reality of this matchup is standard matchmaking practice aimed at reclaiming a major asset in the win column, but Joshua cannot afford to treat this like a sparring session. If he goes in there calmly and does all the things, then there will be great upset.

Prenga looked absolutely stunned today, standing next to a guy who has been selling out stadiums for a decade. It’s strenuous to play the role of a menacing, disrespectful villain when your eyes are as large as saucers and staring at the platform you’ve been given.

This is the loophole in Joshua’s plan. You can try to goad your opponent all you want, but if the guy on the other side of the stage is basically cheerful to be given the opportunity and the paycheck, you can’t force him to show real, genuine malice.

Prengi’s manager may utter fine promotional phrases about miscalculations and grave digging, but when the players look into each other’s eyes, the real active is revealed. Prenga looked like a guy who won the lottery, not a guy who wanted to start a war.

This puts Joshua in a hard position for the next two months of camp. If Prenga doesn’t give him the hostile energy he’s looking for, Joshua will have to find another way to motivate himself to get out of first gear on July 25.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Boxing

53-Year-Old Heavyweight Champion Prepares for Boxing Comeback: Im Outperforming Everyone in the Gym

Published

on

"53-Year-Old Heavyweight Champion Prepares for Boxing Comeback: 'I'm Outperforming Everyone in the Gym'"

Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield are regarded as two of the best heavyweights in recent history, and now a former world heavyweight champion who fought them both is planning a shock return to the sport at the age of 53.

Lewis and Holyfield ruled the heavyweight division at various stages throughout the 1990s, which led to the duo famously colliding on two occasions in 1999.

The first bout ended in a controversial split decision draw, before Lewis left no doubt in the second meeting as he won by unanimous decision to become undisputed heavyweight champion.

Just under 18 months later, Lewis suffered an upset defeat, as he was knocked out inside five rounds by Hasim Rahman, and it is Rahman who is now planning on returning to the sport at the age of 53, as he looks to compete for the first time since June 2014.

After his victory over Lewis, Rahman lost by fourth round knockout in their immediate rematch, before he then headed straight into a bout with Holyfield, suffering a technical decision loss after eight rounds due to an eye injury after an accidental head clash.

Further defeats followed, with his record currently standing at 50 wins from 62 fights, but he has told Sean Zittel about his current success in the gym.

“I feel like in every aspect of my life, I feel like a 25-year-old. I go in the gym and I’ll work everybody in the gym, every single person.”

Rahman is scheduled to compete at the ESL Ballpark in Rochester, New York on Tuesday 18 August, with an opponent yet to be announced.

Continue Reading

Boxing

Terence Crawford Sends Cryptic Message Following Conor McGregors UFC 329 Defeat

Published

on

"Terence Crawford Sends Cryptic Message Following Conor McGregor's UFC 329 Defeat"
Add East Side Boxing as a preferred source on Google

Follow East Side Boxing on Google News

“It’s crazy when they talk shit to me God punish them.”

FightHype interpreted the post as Crawford reacting to McGregor’s defeat, and many fans reached the same conclusion given the timing.

The two have exchanged words in recent weeks after McGregor claimed Crawford turned down a $200 million two-fight boxing and MMA deal. Crawford rejected that version of events, saying no such offer was ever presented to him.

Crawford did not mention McGregor by name or elaborate on his message, but the post quickly spread across social media.

The reaction was divided. Some boxing fans viewed the message as Crawford reminding McGregor of their recent feud, while many MMA fans criticized the retired four-division champion for appearing to celebrate McGregor’s injury and defeat. Others accused Crawford of invoking divine punishment over a sporting result, calling the post unnecessary.

Neither Crawford nor McGregor has commented further since the exchange reignited discussion between boxing and MMA fans.

Continue Reading

Boxing

Dana White Outraged After UFC Broadcast Confuses Shakur Stevenson with NBA Player

Published

on

"Dana White Outraged After UFC Broadcast Confuses Shakur Stevenson with NBA Player"

Dana White ripped the UFC production team after they mistakenly identified boxing star Shakur Stevenson during Saturday night’s UFC 329 broadcast, saying the company continues to struggle with celebrity recognition despite having produced events for more than two decades.

While discussing the overall production during his post-fight press conference, White praised the show’s presentation before abruptly shifting to one mistake that clearly irritated him.


Add East Side Boxing as a preferred source on Google

Follow East Side Boxing on Google News

“I tell you all the time, my production team, we just did the White House. We built a fing arena on the South Lawn of the White House, and it was the greatest fing thing in the world to be there live and to watch it on TV,” White said.

“I just paid Shakur Stevenson a shitload of money. And for some reason, we can’t figure this celebrity s*** out. They put him up as a fing OKC NBA player. Are you fing kidding me?”

White continued venting about the error, saying the UFC has become notorious for misidentifying celebrities shown on its broadcasts.

“We are the absolute worst to ever do the celebrity thing. When we put celebrities up, we are the worst. I just had this fing debate in the back with my guys while I was screaming at everybody back there. They said, ‘No, soccer’s worse. Soccer shows the people, and they don’t put up any graphics.’ Oh no. We put up fing graphics and put the wrong guy’s name on it. We win. We’re the worst ever to f***ing do it.”

Stevenson attended UFC 329 as one of the event’s notable guests following his growing relationship with Zuffa Boxing. White has repeatedly praised the undefeated former three-division world champion and has made him one of the most recognizable boxing figures associated with the promotion’s new venture.

The broadcast mistake quickly drew attention online, with boxing fans sharing clips of White’s profanity-filled reaction and criticizing the production error. The incident also highlighted Zuffa Boxing’s increasing crossover with UFC events as White continues expanding his presence in professional boxing.

Youtube video

Click here to subscribe to our FREE newsletter

Latest Boxing News:

Tags Dana WhiteShakur StevensonUFC 329

Last Updated on 2026/07/12 at 2:02 AM

Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending