Heavyweight contenders Anthony JoshuaPlayer·Anthony Joshua and Kristian PrengaPlayer·Kristian Prenga recently engaged in a face-off in LondonVenue·London, building anticipation for their upcoming bout scheduled for July 25, 2026. The fight, initially slated for Riyadh, will now take place at the Jeddah SuperdomeVenue·Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia.
For Anthony JoshuaPlayer·Anthony Joshua, 36, this contest marks his return to the ring following a decisive sixth-round knockout victory over Jake PaulPlayer·Jake Paul in MiamiVenue·Miami in December 2025. The period since that win has been challenging for Joshua, who was involved in a fatal car accident in Nigeria in December 2025, resulting in the tragic loss of two close friends and delaying his planned return. Despite these personal adversities, Joshua has committed to a demanding year, with contracts already signed for a highly anticipated undisputed title showdown against Tyson FuryPlayer·Tyson Fury later in 2026.
Joshua, who holds a professional record of 29 wins (26 by knockout) and 4 losses, is currently ranked #4 by the WBA and WBC, #6 by the IBF, and #4 by the WBO in the heavyweight division. He has been training diligently in ValenciaVenue·Valencia, working alongside Oleksandr UsykPlayer·Oleksandr Usyk's team and focusing on enhancing his boxing IQ and defensive awareness under trainer Tony SimsCoach·Tony Sims.
"We are strong, we are focused. This is a huge year for me," Anthony Joshua stated. "It's not about underestimating anyone, but knowing your goal, knowing your next step and climbing the ladder. I have a clear goal, I know what this year is about, I know how difficult it will be. I am definitely the man for this job."
Kristian PrengaPlayer·Kristian Prenga, 35, enters this bout with an impressive professional record of 20 wins, all by knockout, and only one loss. His last outing saw him secure a swift first-round knockout against Brandon CarmackPlayer·Brandon Carmack in December 2025. Prenga, known for his formidable knockout power and a 100% knockout rate in his victories, is ranked #36 among heavyweights on BoxRec and holds a position within the World Boxing Association's divisional standings.
This fight against Joshua represents the most significant challenge of Prenga's career. His team has made bold statements, which Joshua acknowledged with a smile, remarking, "These guys are just digging their own grave." Prenga himself has expressed his ambition to become a world champion, asserting that Joshua has made a "terrible miscalculation" in selecting him as an opponent and vowing to "shock the world."
Joshua, however, maintains a singular focus on the immediate task. "Fight hard, fight for victory, and if you say Fury , brilliant. But victory is the real success. Everything else doesn't matter... Victory is my focus."
Eddie HearnCoach·Eddie Hearn, Joshua's manager, emphasized the significance of Joshua's return. "They call this a comeback, which is quite strange because it's only been six months since we saw 'AJ' in the ring in December," Hearn said. "Obviously everyone is aware of what happened after the Paul fight, and for me, this is one of the great comebacks. We are incredibly proud of what he did to get back in the ring – physically and mentally. Boxing is his goal, boxing is his peace. And when I go to ValenciaVenue·Valencia and see the training camp with Oleksandr UsykPlayer·Oleksandr Usyk, I don't just see Anthony JoshuaPlayer·Anthony Joshua in the final stages of his career, but I see a man who is more motivated and more focused than ever not only to destroy Prenga, not only to destroy Tyson FuryPlayer·Tyson Fury, but also to try to become a heavyweight world champion again. Now the dream seems to make more sense than ever."
Anthony Joshua and Kristian Prenga at The Comeback Launch press conference in London. Credit: Every Second Media/IMAGO
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