Anthony Joshua is set to face off against relatively unknown Kristian Prenga on July 25 before eventually stepping into the ring with his long-time adversary, Tyson Fury.

The former two-time heavyweight champion has been out of action since his dominating victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December. Initially expected to return in March, Joshua was involved in a tragic car accident in Nigeria shortly after his win over Paul, resulting in the tragic deaths of his close friends Kevin Ayodele and Sina Ghami.

Following a period of recovery from the harrowing incident, the 36-year-old has been spotted training with former rival turned friend Oleksandr Usyk in Valencia. Recently making appearances in the UK to support Derek Chisora and witness Tyson Fury’s victory, the demand for a showdown between Fury and Joshua intensified, though Joshua initially declined.

However, Joshua has now agreed to face Fury in November, provided he emerges victorious against Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this summer, with the fight airing on DAZN. Joshua expressed his readiness to return to the ring, stating his excitement for the upcoming matches and his determination to continue his journey in the sport.

Prenga, an Albanian heavyweight with an impressive record of 20 knockout wins and only one defeat, is confident in his abilities to surprise the world by defeating Joshua in Saudi Arabia. He sees the upcoming bout as a pivotal moment that could alter the course of both his and Joshua’s careers.

The stage is set for an intense showdown between Joshua and Prenga, with boxing fans eagerly anticipating the outcome of this highly-anticipated fight.