Joshua Returns to Ring in Saudi Arabia Ahead of Fury Showdown

Anthony Joshua is set to return to the ring this Saturday, 25 July, when he faces Albanian boxer Kristian Prenga at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia. The bout serves as a strategic warm-up for Joshua’s anticipated super-fight against Tyson Fury, which is currently scheduled for late 2026. This contest marks Joshua’s first professional appearance since December, when he survived a fatal car crash in Nigeria that resulted in the deaths of two of his teammates.

The 36-year-old Joshua, with a record of 29 wins and four losses, will take on Prenga, who holds a record of 20 wins and one loss. The fight is positioned as a necessary step in Joshua’s preparation, following his previous bout against Jake Paul in Miami, which was not considered a comprehensive gateway to the all-British showdown with Fury. Joshua’s opponent, Fury, is scheduled to fight Mariusz Wach one night prior to the main event.

Rumours suggest that the Joshua vs Fury super-fight could take place at Wembley Stadium in November, contingent on the event occurring in the early hours of the morning. The main card for the Jeddah event begins at 6pm BST, with the main event ring walk expected around 10.45pm BST. The event will be streamed exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view for £19.99, without requiring a standard subscription.

The undercard features significant domestic interest, with British stars Hamzah Sheeraz and Josh Kelly defending their world titles. Sheeraz will defend his WBO super-middleweight title against Simon Zachenhuber, while Josh Kelly will defend his IBF super-welterweight title against Caoimhin Agyarko. Additional bouts include Reito Tsutsumi vs Alvino Herrera in the super-featherweight division and Lenny Patrach vs Oleksandr Khyzhniak in the light-heavyweight category.

The structure of the event underscores the careful pacing of Joshua’s return to competitive boxing. By facing a relative unknown like Prenga, Joshua aims to regain his rhythm and form before the high-stakes encounter with Fury. The exclusive streaming arrangement via DAZN highlights the commercial focus on this pivotal moment in the heavyweight division.