Anthony Joshua declares he is stronger than ever as road to Tyson Fury showdown begins against Kristian Prenga
Anthony Joshua faces Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on July 25 in warm-up fight before blockbuster bout against Tyson Fury; Joshua says he is mentally and physically stronger after time away from the sport
Monday 1 June 2026 19:53, UK
Anthony Joshua is relishing being back where he belongs and doing what he loves, as he steps up preparations for his showdown with Tyson Fury.
The two-time heavyweight champion has had an extended period away from boxing following the tragic deaths of two friends in a car accident in Nigeria.
Joshua will make his first appearance since his December 2025 victory over Jake Paul when he takes on Albanian Kristian Prenga in Jeddah on July 25.
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Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports, Joshua explained how he will be stronger - both physically and mentally - than ever before when he steps back into the ring.
"I feel solid," he said. "This is where I want to be. I'm very grateful for this opportunity. It's nice doing what I love.
"Life throws many obstacles at us. I stand before you now as a boxer, but I've got things happening in my life. I think this is the right place for me to be.
"I'm building myself up to be stronger than I've ever been because I know I am - not only physically, because that's natural, but mentally. I've realised I'm a lot stronger than I ever thought I was.
"I got into boxing to reshape my mind and identity, to make me a better person. It's doing the same for me now. It's reshaping my life and giving me purpose.
"It's funny because the same reason I got into boxing is the same way it's helping me now. Boxing was never just about being a champion, it's about the championship mentality."
'Can I do it every day in the gym?'
Prenga represents the final step on Joshua's journey towards a long-anticipated fight with British heavyweight rival Fury.
Seven months will have passed by the time Joshua gets back into the ring on fight night.
He hopes the Prenga bout offers ample opportunity to sharpen up, though he admits the training camp itself, which has featured spells working under Oleksandr Usyk, will be more significant.
"I want to get some combinations going," he said. "I want to get some power punches going.
"What I'd like to see is my eyes focused on his body language changing, being able to break him down and then execute what I know I can do. I can punch really hard, and when I do that it will give me confidence going into the Fury fight.
"Confidence comes from your training. The fight is only an execution of that, so it's not just the fight that gives me confidence.
"It's getting through these seven weeks because every fighter knows it's hard. You've got sparring partners - I've got four or five good guys waiting for me - so it's not just the fight.
"I know what I'm going to do in the fight, but can I do it every day in the gym? Getting through this training camp will be the real reason I'm victorious on July 25 because of the way I prepare."
Joshua shed light on the inner workings of a deal brokered by boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh that has finally made a generation-defining fight - over a decade in the making - a reality.
"It's amazing," Joshua added.
"His Excellency and my management, Matchroom Boxing, sat down together and went through the nitty-gritty. They managed to put a two-fight deal together; the first against Prenga, the second against Fury.
"I signed that deal and I'm happy to be in a position where I know where I am now and what I have to do to get to the end of the year.
"I'm obviously not overlooking anyone, but this is the deal that was presented to me. It's good to have some work. I've got about eight weeks now until I fight Prenga. He's a good, live opponent. I'll do my best and then move on."
'Now feels the right time' - AJ wants Fury face-off
Joshua's overdue showdown with Fury gained traction when he watched the self-styled Gypsy King's victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov from ringside in April.
Fury called Joshua out after his unanimous decision win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, only for AJ to decline the invitation to join him in the ring.
"The landlord doesn't move," Joshua explained. "There was no rent to collect at the time - the contracts hadn't been signed or agreed.
"We sat down afterwards and I said, look, I don't want to get in the ring and lead anyone on. There was nothing agreed. I was not there to create hype.
"I was there on a scouting mission. That was my purpose. I achieved it. I saw what I saw. Then there was all this other stuff afterwards. I didn't think it was the right thing to do, but now I'm happy to talk about it."
With a two-fight deal signed, sealed and delivered, Joshua is ready to face off with Fury.
"If Fury was here with me now, I would do a face-off because there's a reason now," he continued. "That was the logic before - it wasn't the right time - but now it is.
"If he's here, if he wants to get in the ring and I get the victory, 100 per cent he can step into my ring, into my environment.
"I'm inviting him into my house. He can come to the landlord's house. He's more than welcome anytime."
