Kristian Prenga: Flying the Flag for Canadian & American Albanian Boxers

Kristian Prenga, the Canadian Albanian heavyweight is preparing for his 15th unconfirmed fight, after winning his latest fight back in March 2023 against the American Samuel Crossed, in a third round KO. This brought Kristian Prenga the title of North American and Continental Americas champion and a sweeping record of 13-1 matches.

The 32 year old resident from Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, has been training at a gym in the heart of New Jersey, mainly Lyndhurst, for almost two years, under trainer Muhammad Abdul Salaam, who also trains previous lightweight interim Champion Ryan Garcia.

Kristian, whose family is from Orosh, Mirdite, Northern Albania, says he wants to be a role model for other American Albanians fighters. He tells me he feels a responsibility to conduct himself in a way that inspires people of all backgrounds especially from Albanian descent.

"It's good to be respectful to everyone, be the best person you can and treat people with respect," he says.
"It's about being somebody who is remembered for their values”.
"Some people say they look up to me, I'm just trying to be the best example I can be."

Kristjan says Albanian boxer Gjetan Keta who's also from Northern Albania, Bulqize, Diber, has been a huge inspiration for him.
"He's paved the way for the next wave of  Albanian fighters as a whole," says Kristian.
"He's set the bar high, even if I can achieve half of what he has, it would be huge."

It's not been an easy route for Kristian though. He says his family have had to make sacrifices to support him.
"Sometimes you have to go away from family to training camps, the diet is hardcore, you're missing out on birthdays, summer vacations and the whole lot," he says. “Even financially, the level I was at, I had to sell tickets myself - if you don't sell tickets, it means you don't get to fight." Kristian has become one of the biggest local ticket sellers in New Jersey boxing thanks to the support he receives from the American Albanian community, which packs local halls to watch his fights full of enthusiasm and furore.

In Kristian’s gym run by his trainer Muhammad Abdul Salaam in Central Lyndhurst, New Jersey, there are many other aspiring professionals who also train there with him, but Selaam says that, "Kristian’s achievements are outstanding and he continues to do nothing but inspire other boxers every day". He goes further and admits that, “when the younger fighters see Kristian doing what he does, it makes them think they can also reach those levels, especially for someone like Julio Gomes (an amateur boxer) who's had no professional fights under his belt. It fills his heart full of hope of one day achieving the heights of Kristian”.

Kristjan’s 3-0 record under Salaam is astounding, when you think that he achieved it without the help of a manager or promoter, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his targets and represent his community in a positive light and catch his opponent out with a signature forehead punch.