Joshua: I'm facing an entire team... and Sheeraz vows to defend his title...

Top international boxing stars expressed their full readiness for the upcoming 13th "The Comeback" fight night during the official press conference held today at the "Jeddah Promenade" amid extensive media attendance, ahead of the highly anticipated bouts hosted at the "Jeddah Super Dome" on Saturday evening.

The city of Jeddah is hosting major international boxing events, reinforcing its position as a prominent sporting destination for hosting major international tournaments.

Former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua began his remarks regarding his anticipated bout against Albanian Kristian Prenga, confirming his full readiness and stating that his focus extends to all details of the opponent's camp, not just his rival alone. He said: "I am fully focused. It is not just about the opponent, but the entire team; my coach versus his coach, my physiotherapist against his counterpart, my strategy against his strategy, and I am facing him inside the ring, and in the end, may the best man win." He added that his primary goal at this stage is to achieve victory and move forward toward bigger challenges in his professional career.

For his part, world champion Hamzah Sheeraz confirmed that his crowning as the WBO super middleweight champion has not changed his mentality or working style, explaining that the short period between his fights has helped him maintain his 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 an integrated team led by coach Andy Lee has contributed to keeping him humble and pushing him to continue developing inside and outside the ring, stressing that he always strives to deliver his best in every fight.

Meanwhile, Matchroom Boxing Chairman Eddie Hearn stated that the clash between world champion Josh Kelly and Irish boxer Caoimhin Agyarko is one of the strongest bouts of the evening, affirming that Kelly has cemented his place among the elite after defeating Murtazaliev, while Agyarko enters the bout with an undefeated professional record of 18 wins, making the outcome of the fight completely wide open.

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

For his part, world champion Josh Kelly affirmed that winning the title has brought about a major transformation in his personality and self-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 bout with great confidence to prove the difference in level, stressing that his current confidence makes him capable of competing against any of the top boxers in his division, and that the fans will witness an exceptional performance inside the ring.

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

The press conference comes as part of The Comeback fight week events, which witness a series of accompanying activities before the curtain falls on Saturday evening, when Jeddah hosts one of the most prominent international boxing evenings, featuring a group of the game's stars led by Anthony Joshua, alongside a number of international champions and Saudi boxers, in an evening anticipated by boxing fans from all over the world.

Tomorrow (Friday) marks the official weigh-in for the boxers, followed by the final face-off among all participants at the Jeddah Promenade at 8:00 PM, serving as the final stop ahead of the anticipated fight night, where all boxers will finalize their official weights.

The accompanying activities of The Comeback fight week continue with the official weigh-in and final face-offs for the boxers tomorrow, Friday, at the Jeddah Promenade. This major night features an elite group of world champions and Saudi boxers amid widespread global fan anticipation. These tournaments represent an important milestone for boxers seeking to enhance their professional careers and achieve new titles. The competitions receive extensive media coverage and special attention from fans of the noble art around the world.