Joshua: I Face a Full Team.. and Sheeraz Pledges to Defend His Title..

A group of elite international boxing stars confirmed their readiness for their upcoming fights during the official press conference for the 13th edition of The Comeback event, held today at 'Jeddah Promenade' in front of a large media presence, ahead of the anticipated matchups to be hosted at 'Jeddah Super Dome' next Saturday evening.

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua began his remarks about his fight against Albanian Kristian Bringa by emphasizing his complete readiness, stressing that his focus is not only on his opponent but on all elements of the opposing camp. He said: 'I am fully focused. It is not just about the opponent, but the entire team; my coach against his coach, my physio against his physio, my strategy against his strategy, and me against him in the ring. In the end, may the best man win.' He added that his goal at this stage is to achieve victory and continue progressing toward greater challenges in his professional career.

For his part, world champion Hamzah Sheeraz confirmed that winning the WBO super-middleweight title did not change his mindset or work ethic, noting that the short period between his fights helped him maintain focus. He said: 'I will not repeat the mistake of staying away from competitions, and I will seize every opportunity to defend my title.' He added that having a complete team led by coach Andy Lee helped him stay humble and motivated him to continue developing inside and outside the ring, affirming that he always strives to give his best in every fight.

Meanwhile, Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn described the fight between world champion Josh Kelly and Irish boxer Caoimhin Agyarko as one of the strongest of the evening, asserting that Kelly proved his place among the boxing elite after his victory over Murtazaliev, while Agyarko enters the fight with a perfect professional record of 18 wins and no losses, making it an open contest with all possibilities.

Hearn said that the winner of this fight will have an opportunity to face one of the biggest names in boxing, pointing out that the matchup could have achieved public success wherever it was held, but hosting it on The Comeback card in Jeddah gives it an even greater global dimension.

For his part, world champion Josh Kelly confirmed that winning the title brought a significant transformation in his personality and confidence, saying: 'Becoming a world champion changes a lot inside you; I feel like a new version of myself.' He added that he will enter the fight with great confidence to prove the difference in level, asserting that his current confidence makes him capable of competing with any of the top boxers in his weight class, and that the fans will see an outstanding performance in the ring.

In contrast, his Irish opponent Caoimhin Agyarko stressed that his team was the one who initiated the request for this fight immediately after his previous fight was canceled, rejecting rumors that Kelly's camp had chosen him. He said: 'We requested this fight from the moment our previous fight was canceled, and my manager contacted Matchroom directly to request a fight with Josh Kelly.' He added that this fight is not an optional title defense but an early mandatory defense, expressing confidence in his ability to take the belt and achieve the biggest victory of his professional career. During the face-off, a verbal altercation occurred that nearly turned physical between the boxers, quickly stopped by the organizers.

The press conference is part of The Comeback fight week activities, which includes a series of accompanying events before the curtain falls on Saturday evening, when Jeddah hosts one of the most prominent international boxing evenings, featuring a group of boxing stars led by Anthony Joshua, along with several world champions and Saudi boxers, in an evening awaited by boxing fans from around the world.

Tomorrow (Friday), the official weigh-in for the boxers will take place, followed by the final face-offs between all participants at Jeddah Promenade at 8:00 PM, as a final stop before the anticipated fight night, where all boxers will make their official weights.