Anthony Joshua returns to the ring on July 25 in Jeddah against Kristian Prenga, marking his first fight since December 2025 following personal tragedy. The two-time heavyweight champion has been working with trainer Oleksandr Usyk during an extended camp, declaring himself stronger than ever both physically and mentally. Joshua emphasized that boxing serves as purpose and identity, reshaping his life after losing two close friends in a Nigeria car accident.

The Prenga bout serves as stepping stone to a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury later this year, with promoter Eddie Hearn confirming a two-fight deal brokered by Turki Alalshikh. Joshua signed the agreement that sets up the generation-defining British heavyweight clash for November, ending over a decade of speculation about when these rivals would finally meet.

Fury recently announced his own warm-up fight on August 1 in Dublin ahead of their November meeting. Joshua watched Fury's April victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov from ringside but declined entering the ring at that time, explaining contracts weren't finalized. Now with deals in place, he's ready for the face-off and issued an invitation to Fury.

Joshua believes his eight-week training camp will determine victory over Prenga, stating confidence comes from preparation, not just fight night execution. He wants to establish combinations and power punches while studying his opponent's body language, using this platform to prove readiness for the ultimate test against Fury.