Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is set to return to the ring on July 25 in a preparatory bout ahead of a much-anticipated showdown with rival Tyson Fury later this year.
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh announced on Monday that Joshua will face Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga in Riyadh as part of an “Esports World Cup” event, which will be broadcast live on DAZN.
The fight will mark Joshua’s first outing since his knockout victory over Jake Paul in December.
Following that bout, Joshua was involved in a car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close associates, though he sustained only minor injuries. He has since resumed training and is preparing for a return to top-level competition.
The upcoming fight is part of a reported two-fight agreement under Riyadh Season, which is expected to culminate in a long-awaited clash with Fury toward the end of the year.
Confirming the development, Alalshikh said, “To my friends in Great Britain, it’s happening. It’s signed.”
Joshua described the July bout as a key step in his comeback journey.
“It’s no secret I’ve taken some time to consolidate and rebuild to be ready for stepping back into the ring, and today is the next step on that journey.
“I’m delighted to have agreed a multi-fight deal starting with July 25th in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I’m looking forward to competing and picking up where I left off,” he said.
The British-Nigerian fighter added a note of confidence ahead of the bout, saying, “As I said, the landlord will collect his rent. That is certain.”
Joshua will be expected to overcome Prenga to set up the blockbuster encounter with Fury, a fight long demanded by boxing fans and widely seen as one of the biggest potential matchups in the heavyweight division.