THE COMEBACK

ANTHONY JOSHUA

vs.

KRISTIAN PRENGA

HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN  ·  SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2026

Boulevard City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  ·  Live on DAZN

(April 27th) His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, today officially announced that two-time unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) will return to the ring on Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, facing hard-hitting Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga (20-1, 20 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round bout.

The highly anticipated event, officially titled "THE COMEBACK," will headline the Esports World Cup Festival and stream live and exclusively worldwide on DAZN. The announcement was issued jointly by the General Entertainment Authority, promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, and Riyadh Season.

The Joshua–Prenga contest marks the first leg of a landmark multi-fight agreement between Joshua and Riyadh Season. Turki Alalshikh simultaneously confirmed that Joshua's next fight following Prenga will be a long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown against WBC Champion Tyson Fury, targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026 and set to stream live on Netflix.

FIGHTER PROFILE — ANTHONY JOSHUA

Anthony Joshua is one of the most decorated and globally recognisable heavyweight champions of his generation. A 2012 Olympic gold medallist in London, he went on to claim the IBF World Heavyweight Championship in 2016 with a stunning second-round knockout of Charles Martin at London's O2 Arena, beginning one of the most compelling championship reigns in recent memory.

At his peak, Joshua simultaneously held the IBF, WBA (Super), WBO, and IBO heavyweight world titles and headlined stadium events in front of tens of thousands of fans at iconic venues including Wembley Stadium, Cardiff's Principality Stadium, and Madison Square Garden in New York. Notable victories include a brutal seventh-round stoppage of Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley (2017), a points win over Alexander Povetkin, and back-to-back stoppage wins over Francis Ngannou and Otto Wallin in Riyadh.

His most recent ring outing came in December 2025, when he stopped YouTube-turned-boxer Jake Paul in the sixth round in Miami. Shortly thereafter, Joshua was involved in a fatal car accident in Lagos, Nigeria, which claimed the lives of two of his closest friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. The tragedy led to a period of reflection, during which questions arose over whether Joshua would box again.

He has since confirmed his commitment to the sport and returns on July 25 having signed a multi-fight deal with Riyadh Season.

Joshua said: "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. I'm delighted to have agreed a multi-fight deal starting with July 25th 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."

FIGHTER PROFILE — KRISTIAN PRENGA

Kristian Prenga represents one of boxing's quietly compelling stories: a big, rangy Albanian heavyweight who has quietly assembled a flawless knockout record while training out of New Jersey. Born in Orosh, Albania, Prenga relocated to the United States and turned professional in 2016. After suffering a narrow points defeat to then 1-2 opponent Giovanni Auriemma early in his career, Prenga has reeled off 20 consecutive professional victories — every single one by stoppage.

Standing 6 ft 5 in and possessing the kind of physical size and one-punch power that has proven troublesome at every level of heavyweight boxing, Prenga has never been taken beyond eight rounds in his professional career. His run of 16 consecutive knockout victories is the headline number opponents and observers cannot ignore.

July 25 will represent by far the biggest night of Prenga's professional life — his first scheduled 12-rounder, his first appearance on a major international main event, and his first bout broadcast to a worldwide audience on DAZN. He enters as a significant underdog but has made clear he intends to seize the moment.

Prenga said: "Anthony Joshua is a great fighter, but he made a terrible miscalculation in picking me as his opponent. This is the kind of fight that changes everything in my life and his. I know they have big plans ahead after this fight. I know they are overlooking me. I'm happy about that. I will derail their plans and shock the world this July in Saudi Arabia."

The event will take place at Boulevard City, Riyadh's premier entertainment and lifestyle destination, which has emerged in recent years as the world's foremost venue for elite-level boxing. Riyadh has hosted some of the most significant heavyweight contests in recent history, including multiple undisputed title clashes and the Ngannou and Wallin victories by Joshua himself.

"THE COMEBACK" forms part of the expansive Esports World Cup Festival programming, which runs from July 6 through August 23, 2026, positioning boxing as a flagship attraction of one of the Kingdom's most ambitious entertainment spectacles.

Tickets for Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga will go on sale at a date to be announced. Details regarding ticket tiers, pricing, and purchasing platforms will be released by Matchroom Boxing and the General Entertainment Authority in the coming weeks. Fans are advised to register interest via DAZN and Matchroom Boxing official channels to receive priority access information.

The event will be broadcast live and exclusively on DAZN to audiences worldwide. Joshua confirmed the date via his official social media accounts, posting: "Back active. July 25th. Live on @DAZN." Broadcast start times and undercard announcement details will follow.

PROMOTERS & OFFICIALS

The event is promoted by Matchroom Boxing in association with the General Entertainment Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Season. Eddie Hearn, Managing Director of Matchroom Boxing, has been instrumental in brokering the multi-fight deal that ties Joshua's comeback to a subsequent mega-fight with Tyson Fury.

Eddie Hearn said: "July and November are the two dates that have been presented to us now and we expect to move forward. Fury has just had his tune-up fight with 12 really vital rounds to get him sharp for the next one and I expect us to do the same. AJ will be ready."

Turki Alalshikh, widely credited with transforming Riyadh into the global capital of elite boxing, posted on social media as the event was announced: "To my friends in Great Britain — it's happening. It's signed," in reference to the subsequent Fury showdown that awaits the winner of July's contest.

"THE COMEBACK" is expressly designed as the first chapter in what promises to be the most consequential stretch of Anthony Joshua's career. Following the July 25 contest, a signed agreement is in place for Joshua to face WBC Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury in a Battle of Britain mega-fight, targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. That bout, set to stream live on Netflix, has been described as one of the most anticipated showdowns in British boxing history.

Fury most recently returned from his fifth retirement to defeat Arslanbek Makhmudov by unanimous decision at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, 2026. Joshua was in attendance ringside. When Fury called him to the ring, Joshua declined — the fight contract was not yet signed. Days later, with the ink dry on the multi-fight deal, Joshua confirmed his return.

About DAZN

Welcome to DAZN, the global sports streaming platform that transcends boundaries and redefines the way fans experience their favorite sports. With availability in over 200 territories, DAZN ensures that sports enthusiasts around the world can immerse themselves in the thrill of live and on-demand content, on any device, at the touch of a button.

Purpose-built to seamlessly stream live sports on a global scale, whether its Boxing, MMA, Football, Wrestling, NFL, Tennis, we've got you covered — alongside an extensive catalog of live and on-demand content, making us the go-to destination for sports entertainment.

DAZN isn't just the Global Home of Boxing; it's a trailblazer in transforming the viewers experience. Through strategic partnerships with the biggest and most established boxing promoters, we bring top-class, epic boxing matches to fans worldwide, delivering unforgettable moments straight to your screens.

Our vision extends beyond broadcasting; we are on a mission to revolutionize the entire sports entertainment landscape by placing the customer at the core of an innovative entertainment proposition. DAZN is constructing a singular, frictionless sports entertainment platform where fans can not only watch their favorite sports but also engage in betting, gaming, socializing, sharing, and even purchasing tickets, NFTs, and merchandise—all in one place.

Whether you prefer a traditional, more passive sports-watching experience or crave a gamified and interactive adventure, DAZN caters to your preferences. We're not just streaming sports; we're crafting an all-encompassing sports entertainment universe where every fan can find their perfect match. Join DAZN today and elevate your sports-watching experience to new heights.

About Matchroom Boxing

After the success of snooker in the 1980s, Matchroom Sport moved into boxing with two small hall shows followed by Frank Bruno v Joe Bugner at Tottenham Hotspur’s ground – the biggest boxing event of 1987. That launched the company into the boxing big-time, a position it has maintained ever since.

Through the 1990s Matchroom Sport’s boxing roster featured many of the biggest names in the sport including Lennox Lewis, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, Steve Collins and Naseem Hamed, all in world title fights and it continues to work with some of the biggest names in UK boxing including Audley Harrison, the 2000 Olympic Super-Heavyweight gold medalist.

Over the years, Matchroom Sport has built up long-standing relationships with broadcasters around the world and with the advent of the Prizefighter phenomenon, the company’s boxing division has never been in a stronger position.

From fantastic six round scraps between the sport’s journeymen, up to multi-million-dollar World Championship contests featuring the above fighters, the Pro Box series has it all. Each show is packed with the very best in boxing action in a series that encompasses almost 25 years of Matchroom Sport’s commitment to bringing the highest quality to the global television market.