Anthony Joshua has adopted a "ferocious" mindset ahead of his comeback fight against Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia this Saturday, says Matchroom president Barry Hearn. The two-time heavyweight world champion, who hasn't fought since knocking out Jake Paul in December, is primed to "cause an awful lot of pain" according to Hearn, who has known Joshua for 14 years.

Joshua spent an extended period away from the ring after surviving a car crash in Nigeria that killed two friends. Now training alongside former undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, Hearn says he's never seen Joshua more dialled in: "AJ looks in the shape of his life... he's a ferocious animal at the moment."

While negotiations continue for a long-awaited all-British showdown with Tyson Fury, Joshua must first beat Prenga. Fury is set to fight Mariusz Wach in Thailand on July 24. Hearn hopes the Joshua-Fury fight happens at Wembley, calling it "the biggest heavyweight contest held in my lifetime."