Former two-time unified heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua will return to the boxing ring on Saturday, July 25, 2026, in a bout billed as “The Comeback,” promoters confirmed on Monday.

Joshua, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist, will face Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga (record approximately 20-1 with 20 knockouts) at an event tied to the Esports World Cup Festival in Riyadh. The fight will headline a card and stream live worldwide exclusively on DAZN.

The announcement was made by His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, and supported by Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing. Joshua himself shared the dramatic fight poster on social media, confirming the date and location.

This marks Joshua’s first bout since a period of inactivity that included a reported car accident in late 2025. The 36-year-old Briton described the fight as the start of a multi-fight deal in Saudi Arabia and expressed excitement about his return.

“I’m delighted to have agreed a multi-fight deal starting with July 25th in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Joshua said in statements released alongside the announcement.

Prenga, a 35-year-old knockout specialist based in New Jersey, brings an aggressive style and power but has limited experience at the elite world level. Many analysts view the matchup as a solid “tune-up” fight designed to help Joshua shake off ring rust ahead of bigger challenges.

Promoters have also confirmed that Joshua has a deal in place for a highly anticipated showdown with fellow Briton Tyson Fury later in 2026, with November frequently mentioned as a potential timeframe for that clash (expected to stream on Netflix). Eddie Hearn has described the Fury fight as “signed, sealed, and delivered” pending Joshua getting through Prenga.

The full undercard for the July 25 event has not yet been announced, but the card is expected to feature additional high-profile bouts as part of Saudi Arabia’s continued investment in boxing.

Joshua posted the official promotional poster on his social media accounts, featuring the bold red “THE COMEBACK” branding, the EWC (Esports World Cup) logo, and the DAZN streaming details—matching the materials released by Matchroom and Turki Alalshikh.

Fans can expect more details on ring-walk times, venue specifics within Riyadh, and ticket information in the coming weeks. The bout will be available globally on DAZN’s pay-per-view or Ultimate tier platforms. 

This announcement has generated significant buzz in the heavyweight division, positioning Joshua for a potential late-2026 blockbuster while giving him a credible but manageable opponent to rebuild momentum.