Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will make his return to the ring on July 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as he begins preparations for a highly anticipated clash with fellow Briton Tyson Fury.
The bout, announced by Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh, will see Joshua face Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga in what is being described as a tune-up fight. The event is scheduled to take place as part of the Esports World Cup and will be broadcast live on DAZN.
Joshua’s return marks his first outing since his knockout victory over Jake Paul in December.
Following that win, the British-Nigerian boxer was involved in a car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close associates. Joshua sustained minor injuries
and has since resumed training.The former unified heavyweight champion has now signed a two-fight deal under Riyadh Season, with plans in place for a long-awaited showdown with Fury later in the year.
Confirming the development, Alalshikh wrote on social media that the deal had been finalised, raising expectations for one of boxing’s most talked-about matchups.
Joshua, speaking ahead of his return, said he has used the time away from the ring to regroup and rebuild.
“It’s no secret I’ve taken some time to consolidate and be ready for stepping back into the ring, and this is the next step on that journey,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to competing again and continuing from where I stopped.”
Before any potential clash with Fury can materialise, Joshua must first overcome Prenga in July.
