Anthony Joshua, Former World Champion, will fight Kristian Prenga, Albanian heavyweight boxer, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s Port City.
According to organizers, the fight, which will take place on July 25, 2026, was initially scheduled to take place in the Capital, Riyadh, before being moved to Jeddah.
The organizers, however, did not give any reason for the change in venue for the fight.
The fight, a non-title one, is the British heavyweight boxer’s first since he was in a car accident in his country, Nigeria, in December 2025. The unfortunate incident led to the death of Joshua’s two (2) close friends.
The bout against Prenga is a ‘warm up’ for a showdown with fellow countryman, Tyson Fury, in November.
Speaking to SkySports, Joshua said: “I’m building myself up to be stronger than I’ve ever been because I know I am — not only physically, because that’s natural, but mentally. I’ve realised I’m a lot stronger than I ever thought I was.
“I got into boxing to reshape my mind and identity, to make me a better person. It’s doing the same for me now. It’s reshaping my life and giving me purpose.”
For the first time, Joshua and Prenga met face-to-face at a promotional press conference on Monday in London. Prenga said, he was ready to shock the world.
Prenga said: “Being underestimated is actually a positive thing for me.” The Albanian is a former kickboxer who has a fight record of twenty (20) wins and suffered one (1) defeat since he turned professional in 2016.
Joshua, whose last fight was against Jake Paul, American YouTuber-turned-boxer, said: “These guys just dig a grave. I know exactly what I need to do. I know I’m going to deliver. It’s what I do. All the talk is cheap… this is my division.”
The fight is a must-win for Joshua; failure to emerge victorious over Prenga means the Brit’s “career is virtually done” as the fight against Fury later this year will no longer take place.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s Promoter, said: “If AJ gets beat, it’s all over. Forget the Fury fight, the career is virtually done!”
Photo: Anthony Joshua V Kristian Prenga | Anthony Joshua/X
