Anthony Joshua will return to the ring this summer before taking on long-time rival Tyson Fury. The former two-time heavyweight world champion has not fought since knocking out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in the sixth round back in December. 'AJ' had been expected to make a comeback in February, but those plans were scuppered after the Brit was involved in a tragic car crash in Nigeria just days after his win over Paul.
It did not take long for Joshua to recover before he was back training again. The 36-year-old then began to make public appearances in the UK, and further ramped up talk of a clash with Fury after he was spotted ringside watching his rival in his win over Arslanbek Makhmudov last month. Fury was quick to grab the microphone and issue a call-out of Joshua, but the latter refused to engage in all of the theatrics. Just days later, though, the pair finally agreed to meet in the ring, and are expected to trade leather before Christmas.
But Joshua will first have a tune-up fight. The 36-year-old will take on unknown Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 'AJ' is merely using the contest to get some crucial rounds and minutes under the belt before taking on the 'Gypsy King' - a fight which has been 10 years in the making.
“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,” Joshua said ahead of his return. “I’m delighted to have agreed a multi-fight deal starting with July 25 in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I’m looking forward to competing and picking up where I left off. As I said. The landlord will collect his rent. That is certain.”
Albanian heavyweight Prenga is out to cause a major upset and has sensationally vowed to beat Joshua and ensure his fight with Fury never happens. The 35-year-old knockout artist said: “Everybody is talking about Joshua vs. Fury as if this fight is just a formality, which is a very dangerous mindset in heavyweight boxing. One punch changes everything in this division. I am not showing up for a payday or a photo-op, I am coming to win the fight. By winning, I will smash the biggest fight in British boxing history overnight. The world needs to understand that I am not a manufactured fighter. I am a real fighter who has earned everything through hard work. I fight for my family, my supporters, for Albania, and now I fight for every person who has ever been overlooked or underestimated. A victory changes everything: financially, professionally, and historically. But more than anything, it proves that belief, toughness, and perseverance still matter in this sport. For sure I am being overlooked, but that’s fine. The people overlooking me today will be the same people pretending they always knew how dangerous I was afterward. Being doubted fuels me.”
