Anthony Joshua will make his return to the ring on July 25 when he faces Albania’s Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, in what is being billed as a major comeback fight for the former world heavyweight champion.
The bout will be Joshua’s first since a tragic car accident last December in which two of his close friends were killed. The 36-year-old Briton has taken time away from competition to regroup. Still, his return now signals the start of a new phase in his career, with Saudi Arabia once again positioned at the centre of boxing’s heavyweight landscape.
Joshua will face US-based Albanian heavyweight Prenga, a former kickboxer who has built a professional boxing record of 20 wins and one defeat since turning professional in 2016. The fight, announced by Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alalshikh, will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.
Get ready for the return of Anthony Joshua to the ring against Kristian Prenga at The Comeback 🥊🔥
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) April 27, 2026
as part of Esports World Cup
🗓️ July 25
📺 Broadcast live on DAZN pic.twitter.com/1jEZBKM1zz
Joshua, whose professional record stands at 28 wins and four defeats, last fought in December when he stopped Jake Paul in the sixth round in Miami. He said his return was part of a wider rebuilding process.
“It’s no secret I’ve taken some time to consolidate and rebuild to be ready for stepping back into the ring,” Joshua said. “I’m delighted to have agreed a multi-fight deal starting with July 25 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
The Riyadh bout is expected to serve as a platform for a far bigger contest later in the year. Promoter Eddie Hearn has suggested that Joshua could face Tyson Fury in November, with the July fight acting as a necessary tune-up before a long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown.
Fury has also made clear that he wants the fight. After defeating Arslanbek Makhmudov earlier this month, he publicly called out Joshua and urged both camps to deliver what he described as the “Battle of Britain”.
For Joshua, the Prenga fight is therefore more than a return bout. It is a test of sharpness, timing and mindset after a difficult personal period. Victory in Riyadh would keep alive one of boxing’s most anticipated matchups, while any slip would threaten to derail plans for a blockbuster clash with Fury.
The heavyweight division has waited years for Joshua and Fury to finally meet. On July 25, Joshua begins what could be the final road towards that defining night.
