British-Nigerian heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has stepped up preparations for his long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury by training with a specially designed heavy bag modelled after the WBC champion.
The custom-made training equipment comes ahead of both fighters’ scheduled tune-up bouts this weekend, as they edge closer to a blockbuster all-British clash that has been years in the making.
Joshua is set to face Kristian Prenga on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, while Fury will take on experienced Polish veteran Mariusz Wach, 46, in Thailand.
Both fighters are expected to complete these warm-up contests before meeting in their highly anticipated heavyweight showdown, for which contracts have already been signed.
Sean Murphy, Joshua’s first boxing coach, revealed the unique training bag during an interview with DAZN. He explained that the equipment was specially built to resemble Fury, particularly replicating the “Gypsy King’s” chin to help Joshua sharpen his punching accuracy and prepare for the challenge ahead.
Murphy said Joshua had provided all the bags currently hanging in the gym and had personally funded other refurbishments at the facility, including new ring covers and an overhaul of the female changing room.
Joshua, aged 36, has vowed never to overlook an opponent again after being stunned by Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019 while he had one eye on a prospective fight with Deontay Wilder, though with his Fury deal now signed, he is being careful not to look past Prenga.
The Saturday bout will be Joshua’s first contest since a car accident claimed the lives of two of his close friends, and comes ten days after he stopped Jake Paul in a heavily anticipated crossover fight.
Joshua is expected to dedicate victory over Prenga to his late friends as he continues plotting a route towards the long-awaited Battle of Britain with Fury, aged 37
