British heavyweight star Anthony Joshua is officially set to make his return to the ring on July 25, as he begins a crucial build-up toward a long-anticipated showdown with fellow boxing giant Tyson Fury.
The upcoming bout will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Joshua will face Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga in a scheduled warm-up fight. The event is part of a high-profile sports card linked to the Esports World Cup and will be broadcast live on DAZN.
This marks Joshua’s first appearance in the ring since his knockout victory over Jake Paul in December. Since then, the former unified heavyweight champion has taken time away from competition to recover, rebuild, and refocus his career trajectory.
His break also came during a difficult personal period, following a tragic road accident in Nigeria that reportedly claimed the lives of two close friends and left him with minor injuries. Despite the setback, Joshua has since returned to full training and is said to be in strong physical condition ahead of his comeback.
Promoter Turki Alalshikh confirmed the fight publicly, stating that plans are firmly in place for Joshua’s return and hinting that the long-awaited clash with Fury is already locked in for later this year, pending both fighters completing their scheduled bouts.
Joshua himself has described this phase as a rebuilding journey, emphasizing that he is focused on consistency and preparation. He expressed excitement about getting back into competition and continuing his pursuit of major fights, including the blockbuster matchup with Fury.
With anticipation building across the boxing world, all eyes will now be on July 25 as Joshua steps back into action, beginning what could be one of the most significant runs of his career.
