Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is preparing to make his return to the boxing ring on July 25 in Riyadh, Riyadh, in what is expected to be a tune-up bout before a much-anticipated clash with Tyson Fury later this year.
The announcement was made on Monday by Turki Alalshikh, who revealed that Joshua will face Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga during the ‘Esports World Cup’ boxing event, which will be broadcast live on DAZN.
This upcoming fight will be Joshua’s first appearance since his knockout victory over Jake Paul in December. Following that win, the British boxer was reportedly involved in a serious car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close friends, while Joshua escaped with minor injuries.
Now back in training, Joshua has reportedly agreed to a two-fight deal with Riyadh Season, paving the way for a long-awaited showdown against Fury later in the year.
Confirming the development, Alalshikh posted on social media: “To my friends in Great Britain – it’s happening. It’s signed.”
Joshua also expressed excitement about his comeback, saying he had taken time to “consolidate and rebuild” before stepping back into the ring.
“I’m delighted to have agreed a multi-fight deal starting with July 25th in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Joshua said. “I’m looking forward to competing and picking up where I left off.”
He ended his statement with a confident message to fans, declaring: “As I said, the landlord will collect his rent. That is certain.”