Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is set to return to the ring in July with a bout against little-known Albanian fighter Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia.
The fight, scheduled for July 25 in Riyadh, will mark Joshua’s first appearance since a December car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close associates, shortly after his knockout victory over Jake Paul.
In a statement announcing the bout, Joshua said he had taken time to recover and refocus following recent events. “It’s no secret I’ve taken some time to consolidate and rebuild to be ready for stepping back into the ring, and this is the next step on that journey,” he said.
Speculation is also mounting over a potential high-profile clash with fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury later this year. Saudi boxing promoter Turki Alalshikh suggested on social media that an agreement has been reached, with reports indicating the fight could take place in the final quarter of the year.
Joshua will first face Prenga, who has recorded 20 knockout wins in 21 professional fights but has yet to compete against opponents of comparable calibre.
The British boxer, an Olympic gold medallist at the London 2012 Olympics, is a former two-time world heavyweight champion. He claimed the IBF title in 2016 and later unified the division before losing his belts to Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019, regaining them in a rematch the same year.
He subsequently lost the titles to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and was defeated again in their 2022 rematch. His most recent title challenge ended in a loss to Daniel Dubois in 2024.
Joshua has since undergone elbow surgery and dealt with a shoulder injury, with his only fight during that period being a victory over Paul.
Meanwhile, Fury recently returned from a 16-month retirement with a win over Arslanbek Makhmudov, as discussions continue over a long-anticipated showdown between the two British heavyweights.
Joshua to Face Prenga in July Comeback Bout
