Anthony Joshua is set to make his comeback to the boxing world on July 25 in Saudi Arabia, where he will compete against Kristian Prenga. This fight marks Joshua's first contest since his return to training following a car accident in Nigeria in December that resulted in the loss of two of his close friends. The official announcement of Joshua's comeback fight has also been accompanied by confirmation from promoters Turki Alashikh and Eddie Hearn that Joshua will face his long-time rival Tyson Fury later this year. Joshua expressed his excitement about the upcoming fight, stating, 'It's no secret I've taken some time to consolidate and rebuild to be ready for stepping back into the ring, and today is the next step on that journey.' He also mentioned that he is looking forward to competing and picking up where he left off.
The highly anticipated fight between Joshua and Fury has been confirmed by several sources, including Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh, who posted on social media that the fight has been signed. Eddie Hearn also echoed this sentiment, claiming that the paperwork is 'Signed, sealed, delivered! AJ vs Fury is on!' Ring magazine has also confirmed the fight, stating that it will take place in 'Q4' of 2026.
Joshua had a pre-existing contract for the fight with Fury, and it appears that all parties are now in agreement that the fight is officially happening. The upcoming fight against Prenga will serve as a test for Joshua before his highly anticipated matchup against Fury. Prenga, who is based in the USA, has a good record on paper, with 20 victories and only one defeat. He expressed his confidence in the upcoming fight, stating that he will 'derail their plans and shock the world this July in Saudi Arabia.' Sky Sports Boxing expert Andy Scott noted that the fight against Prenga is essentially a 'test-the-water' comeback fight for Joshua, given his involvement in the recent car crash and his need to get back into training camp.