Former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will return to the ring on July 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, facing unbeaten knockout artist Kristian Prenga. The bout headlines “The Comeback” as part of Esports World Cup Fight Week and will stream live worldwide on DAZN.
Joshua, 36, holds a professional record of 28-4 (25 KOs). His most recent victory came in December 2025, when he stopped Jake Paul in the sixth round in Miami. That win was followed by tragedy: on December 29, Joshua survived a serious car crash near Lagos, Nigeria, that claimed the lives of his close friends and team members—personal trainer Latif “Latz” Ayodele and strength/rehabilitation coach Sina Ghami.
The British star expressed his excitement in a statement: “I’m delighted to have agreed a multi-fight deal starting with July 25th in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” He added that he is “looking forward to competing and picking up where I left off.”
Kristian Prenga, a 35-year-old Albanian heavyweight based in New Jersey, brings a formidable 20-1 (20 KOs) record with a 100% knockout rate in victories. Standing 6’5” and known for his power, Prenga is viewed as a dangerous opponent who could provide a stern test for Joshua’s ring rust.
“I’m delighted to have agreed a multi-fight deal starting with July 25th in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to competing and picking up where I left off.”
Prenga is not a soft landing. The 35-year-old stands 6’5″, is based in New Jersey and carries a 20-1 record with a 100 per cent knockout rate in victories. Every single win has ended before the final bell. Joshua will need to be sharp.
The broader picture is a potential blockbuster clash against Tyson Fury later in 2026, a fight that Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh has been steering toward for some time. Riyadh has become the undisputed home of heavyweight boxing’s biggest nights, and this is the next chapter.
