Anthony Joshua will return to the ring on July 25, 2026, after a six-month break. He will face Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking his first fight since a serious car crash in Nigeria early this year [1].
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, called the return the "ultimate comeback" and highlighted the severity of Joshua’s injuries sustained in the crash, which killed two members of his team. Hearn said, "The injuries that he sustained in that crash, a lot of people would never fight again and I think the strength that he has shown is quite incredible" [1]. Joshua’s last fight was a win against Jake Paul in December 2025, months before the accident [1].
Joshua’s previous victory over a recognized boxer came in December 2023 against Otto Wallin [1]. At 36 years old, he faces a challenging path to regain championship form. His team insists the bout with Prenga will prepare him physically and mentally for a scheduled fight with Tyson Fury later in 2026. Joshua’s promoter said, "We want the best Anthony Joshua against Tyson Fury. We don't want a guy that, 'maybe he should’ve had a warm up fight - he wasn’t quite ready'" [1].
The Prenga fight carries high stakes. Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has stated the Fury bout will be canceled if Joshua loses to Prenga [1]. Hearn acknowledged that risk, saying, "There's no doubt, and that's the risk that we take" [1].
Prenga is an Albanian boxer with an imposing record of 20 wins—all by stoppage—and one loss [1]. This makes him a formidable test for Joshua’s comeback.
Joshua’s return fight is set for July 25, 2026, in Riyadh. The planned showdown with Tyson Fury is expected in late 2026 but depends on Joshua’s victory over Prenga [1].
