Anthony Joshua will return to the ring on Saturday as he looks to revive his heavyweight career against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The former world champion has spoken with typical confidence ahead of the contest, declaring that his ambition is to conquer the universe. However, Joshua also made it clear that his immediate responsibility is to overcome the challenge in front of him before attention turns to anything bigger.
The 36 year old London fighter said he feels strong, focused and fully prepared for his latest assignment. Much of the discussion surrounding the bout has already shifted towards a possible all British clash with Tyson Fury, a contest boxing fans have wanted to see for several years.
Joshua, though, cannot afford to look beyond Prenga. A convincing performance would strengthen his position in the heavyweight division and keep momentum building towards another major event. Any setback could seriously damage hopes of finally arranging the long discussed Fury showdown.
Joshua versus Prenga is scheduled for Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Jeddah. This will be Joshua’s fifth appearance in Saudi Arabia, although only his second fight in the coastal city.
His previous visit to Jeddah ended in disappointment. In August 2022, Joshua suffered a split decision defeat against Oleksandr Usyk in their world title rematch. That result followed his unanimous decision loss to the unbeaten Ukrainian at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September 2021.
Joshua now returns to the same city with a different objective and another opportunity to rebuild his reputation. Supporters will be watching closely to see whether he can deliver a dominant display against Prenga and move one step closer to the blockbuster meeting with Fury.
For now, the focus remains on Saturday night. Joshua may be dreaming about conquering the universe, but first he must take care of business in Jeddah.
