Anthony Joshua is making his eagerly awaited return to boxing on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia. His opponent is Kristian Prenga, a heavyweight contender with an impressive 20-1 record, all but one win by knockout. The fight, promoted as "The Comeback," is slated as the main event on a strong card beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Time and available exclusively via DAZN pay-per-view. This contest marks a crucial step for Joshua, coming after his victory over Jake Paul and a serious car accident he survived in December 2025.

Prenga, standing six foot five and hailing from Albania, poses a genuine challenge in terms of knockout power but has faced less formidable opponents in the past. His sole loss is an eight-round points defeat early in his career. Notably, some of his more recent adversaries have losing records, which amplifies the difficulty leap he faces against a seasoned boxer like Joshua. While this bout will test him, many predict Joshua will dominate and likely finish the fight by the fifth round.

In addition to the Joshua-Prenga showdown, the undercard features two world title fights. Hamzah Sheeraz is set to defend his WBO super middleweight belt against Simon Zachenhuber, and Josh Kelly will put his IBF junior middleweight title on the line versus Caoimhin Agyarko. Both title defenses add significant value to the event, making it a comprehensive showcase of boxing talent across multiple divisions.

Looking ahead, this fight is positioned as a tune-up for Joshua’s anticipated blockbuster showdown later in 2026 against Tyson Fury. Fury has also scheduled a preliminary bout against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, though it won’t be live-streamed. The rumoured date for the Joshua-Fury fight is November 2026 at Wembley Stadium, with much anticipation surrounding this heavyweight clash. Joshua’s return commands attention, not only because of his boxing skills but also due to the adversity he overcame after surviving that tragic car accident late last year.