Eddie Hearn backs Anthony Joshua to KO Tyson Fury despite Prenga scare

Anthony Joshua can still knock out Tyson Fury even if he fights the way he did against Kristian Prenga, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.

Joshua stopped Prenga in two rounds Saturday in Jeddah but not before getting dropped twice in the opening frame and looking unsteady on his feet. The former two-time heavyweight champion improved to 30-4 with 27 stoppages, clearing the final obstacle before a long-delayed showdown with Fury, who cruised through his own tune-up Friday night.

Hearn confident Joshua's power trumps all against Fury

Hearn told Bad Left Hook that Joshua possesses the equalizer to overcome a shaky performance. "He can fight like that and beat Tyson Fury, because he's got the power to knock anyone out," the Matchroom chairman said. Hearn acknowledged that Prenga hits harder than Fury but added that the Brit needs to tighten up his defense heading into the bigger fight.

When asked whether Joshua struggled to get motivated for an opponent like Prenga and might sharpen up against Fury, Hearn hedged. "Would he be much sharper against an opponent like Fury? I can't tell you the answer," he said. "All I know is he's going to give you 110 percent. And I stand by, if he hits him on the chin, the fight's over. And I believe he knocks (Fury) out."

Joshua's ability to recover from adversity has become part of his brand, according to Hearn, who said the former Olympic gold medalist delivers drama whether he wins or loses. Both Joshua and Fury checked the boxes they needed to in Saudi Arabia this week, setting up a heavyweight collision that has been years in the making.

No date has been announced for Joshua-Fury, though both camps are targeting a fall window in the Middle East.

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• Bad Left Hook — ‘He can fight like that and beat Tyson Fury’: Eddie Hearn on Anthony Joshua’s Prenga scare