Anthony Joshua is preparing for a pivotal return to the boxing ring this Saturday, 25th July 2026, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as he faces Albanian fighter Kristian Prenga. The former two-time world champion stepped onto the scales at 251lbs, a notable 11lbs lighter than Prenga, who weighed in at 261.4lbs. This weight marks a shift for Joshua, who was restricted in his last fight against Jake Paul in December 2025 and weighed 252.5lbs for his September 2024 bout against Daniel Dubois.
This upcoming fight carries significant weight for Joshua, both personally and professionally. It will be his first professional contest since December 2025, and follows a period of profound personal tragedy. Days after his last fight against YouTube personality-turned-boxer Jake Paul, Joshua was involved in a car crash in Nigeria that tragically resulted in the deaths of his close friends, Latif 'Latz' Ayodele and Sina Ghami. The boxer's return to the ring comes as he navigates this difficult chapter.
The stakes for Saturday's fight are exceptionally high. A victory for Joshua is essential to pave the way for a highly anticipated heavyweight showdown against Tyson Fury. Fury has already fulfilled his part of the potential agreement, having stopped veteran Polish fighter Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, on Friday. The boxing world is eagerly anticipating a clash between the two British heavyweights, making Joshua's performance against Prenga critical.
During the weigh-in in Saudi Arabia, the 36-year-old Joshua deftly sidestepped questions regarding a future fight with Tyson Fury. Instead of addressing the anticipated bout, he took control of the DAZN microphone, engaging directly with the crowd and orchestrating a lively exchange of cheers between the British and Albanian fans. He expressed his readiness for the fight, stating, "We're feeling good. It's going down tomorrow night in Jeddah. Let's go people. Big up everyone for coming out. Tomorrow will be good."
Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, acknowledged the importance of the upcoming fight and the challenge Prenga presents. Hearn stated that "The work's done. It's not going to be easy because this isn't a guy (Prenga) with a bundle of defeats and coming here for a payday." He further emphasised the strong support Prenga is receiving, noting, "He's got the whole country behind him by the sound of things as well. It's going to be a great atmosphere, a big fight and a big opportunity." Hearn underscored the team's focus on the immediate challenge, adding, "We know what comes the other side, but we're not looking at that because we've got to deal with this guy."