Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga Slammed As PPV Tune-Up

Commentators say DAZN’s decision to sell Joshua’s comeback as a standalone pay-per-view is difficult to justify because of the opponent

Anthony Joshua’s July 25 comeback against Kristian Prenga is drawing growing criticism over its placement on DAZN pay-per-view. Several boxing commentators argue the matchup does not justify an additional purchase because of the quality of the opponent.

Joshua is returning in Saudi Arabia after stopping Jake Paul in his last outing. Rather than facing a leading heavyweight contender, he’ll meet Prenga, a little-known veteran who has spent most of his career outside the sport’s highest level. The event is available as a standalone PPV for most DAZN subscribers, while those on the platform’s Ultimate tier receive it as part of their subscription.

Saturday Night Boxing’s Adam Abramowitz questioned the decision to market the event as a premium purchase.

“It’s embarrassing that Joshua-Prenga is a pay per view. As I’ve told the DAZN folks before, they just aren’t consistent enough on a quality control basis. They will get more brand loyalty and retain more subscribers if and only if the product improves.”

Boxing analyst Joe Habeeb voiced a similar opinion, pointing to the matchup itself rather than Joshua’s drawing power.

“The straw that broke the camel’s back for me was the Ultimate Package. Trying to tell American boxing fans that a fight like Joshua vs. Prenga is a PPV is beyond ridiculous. Sorry not sorry.”

Subscriber Glenn Coin also criticized DAZN’s expanding PPV model, arguing that events featuring lower-profile opponents are becoming harder to justify.

“I’m bitter because DAZN suckered me in with an annual subscription promising an end to PPV from that November for people who did. They then moved the goalposts and made it an additional subscription price. I don’t mind paying for the best fights, but now even meaningless fights are PPV.”

Joshua remains one of boxing’s biggest commercial attractions and has headlined some of the sport’s most successful pay-per-view events. This time, the opponent has become the issue, with many critics viewing Prenga as neither a legitimate contender nor a meaningful test for the former heavyweight champion.

Much of the criticism is about value. Fans have repeatedly paid for Joshua’s biggest fights, but many don’t believe a comeback bout against Prenga offers the kind of matchup that justifies another PPV purchase.