Anthony Joshua is preparing for a return to professional boxing, with a scheduled fight on July 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The bout is being positioned as a key step toward a long-anticipated showdown with Tyson Fury later in the year.
The announcement was made by Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh, who confirmed that Joshua will face Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga. The fight is part of an event linked to the Esports World Cup and will be streamed live on DAZN.
This will mark Joshua’s first fight since his knockout victory over Jake Paul in December. Shortly after that bout, Joshua was involved in a tragic car accident in Nigeria that resulted in the deaths of two of his close friends. The former unified heavyweight champion, however, escaped with minor injuries.
Since then, Joshua has returned to training and is now set to resume his career under a new agreement. The deal, signed as part of Riyadh Season, includes two fights—beginning with the July 25 contest and expected to lead into a high-profile clash with Fury toward the end of the year.
“To my friends in Great Britain – it’s happening. It’s signed,” Alalshikh tweeted.
For Joshua, the upcoming fight represents both a comeback and a reset as he looks to rebuild momentum in the heavyweight division.
He said: “It’s no secret I’ve taken some time to consolidate and rebuild to be ready for stepping back in to the ring, and today is the next step on that journey.
“I’m delighted to have agreed a multi-flight deal starting with July 25th in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“I’m looking forward to competing and picking up where I left off.
“As I said, the landlord will collect his rent. That is certain.”
