Anthony Joshua will return to boxing in a comeback fight on July 25 in Riyadh ahead of showdown with Tyson Fury
Anthony Joshua will return to boxing against Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Eddie Hearn has set November as a potential time for the long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury
Monday 27 April 2026 16:56, UK
Anthony Joshua will return to boxing in a comeback bout on July 25 in Saudi Arabia.
The former unified world champion will fight Kristian Prenga in Riyadh this summer.
It will be Joshua's first contest since returning to training after a car accident in Nigeria in December saw two of his close friends die.
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The official announcement of AJ's comeback fight has been accompanied by confirmation from promoters Turki Alashikh and Eddie Hearn that Joshua will finally fight his great rival Tyson Fury later this year.
Joshua said: "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. I'm delighted to have agreed a multi-fight deal starting with July 25 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
"I'm looking forward to competing and picking up where I left off. As I said: The landlord will collect his rent. That is certain."
Joshua-Fury is 'signed, sealed, delivered', says Hearn
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh had already turbo-charged speculation on Monday that the fight between Joshua and Fury had been agreed when he posted on social media: "To my friends in Great Britain. It's happening, it's signed."
Hearn echoed Alashikh's sentiment in a post on Instagram shortly after, claiming the paperwork is "Signed, sealed, delivered! AJ vs Fury is on!"
Ring magazine have also confirmed the fight as a "done deal" on X, claiming that the fight will take place in "Q4" of 2026.
Joshua had a pre-existing contract for the fight with Fury - with the latter confirming that he had signed his side of the paperwork after his recent victory against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
"I've signed. I signed months ago. I don't know if he signed," Fury said after the fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Hearn's announcement, though, appears to confirm that all parties are now agreement that the fight is officially happening.
Hearn had previously told Sky Sports: "July and November are the two dates that have been presented to us now and we expect to move forward.
"Fury has just had his tune-up fight with 12 really vital rounds to get him sharp for the next one and I expect us to do the same."
Joshua finally accepts Fury's challenge
After Fury outpointed Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium he directly called on Joshua to fight him next.
"I want you, AJ, Anthony Joshua. Let's give the fight fans what they want - the Battle of Britain. I challenge you Anthony Joshua to fight me the Gypsy King next," Fury declared.
"Do you accept my challenge?"
Joshua answered: "I've been chasing you the last 10 years, when you're ready you come and see me and tell me your terms and conditions.
"I'm the boss, you work for me. I'm the landlord. You work for me."
Whether or not Joshua prevails against Prenga, he now looks set to fight Fury in an era-defining bout that will undoubtedly be one of the biggest in British boxing history.
Who is Kristian Prenga and what's his record?
Albania's Kristian Prenga is based in the USA and has good record on paper, 20 victories against just one defeat.
Every one of those professional wins has come inside the distance too.
The lone loss on his ledger came early in his career, against then 1-2 Giovanni Auriemma in 2017.
Prenga said: "Anthony Joshua is a great fighter, but he made a terrible miscalculation in picking me as his opponent. This is the kind of fight that changes everything in my life and his.
"I know they have big plans ahead after this fight. I know they are overlooking me. I'm happy about that. I will derail their plans and shock the world this July in Saudi Arabia."
"I mean no disrespect but Kristian Prenga is probably the most googled athlete in the last hour - because, on the surface of things, he's not the best known heavyweight," says Sky Sports Boxing expert Andy Scott.
"But nobody is pretending that this is anything other than an Anthony Joshua test-the-water comeback fight, because he was involved in the terrible car crash that took the life of his two great friends, Sina [Ghami] and Latz [Adoyele]. These were two close friends.
"He's gone through the physical trauma of the car accident. He has to go back into camp, which he has done, and he's taking it slow.
"This will be the test to see how he gets on in the training camp, hard sparring, and the pressure of a big fight week.
"In Saudi Arabia, it will be a more low-profile return for Joshua. It's a fight that they've made that he should win."
