HEAVYWEIGHT
Joshua vs Prenga: Fury Has His Say On AJ's July 25 Warm-Up
Anthony Joshua returns against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah on July 25 — and Tyson Fury has already had his say on AJ's warm-up opponent.
- Anthony Joshua faces Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on July 25, a tune-up bout ahead of the planned superfight with Tyson Fury
- Fury has weighed in on Prenga's ability as the two camps eye a late-2026 collision, with both men needing to win their warm-ups first
- It should be a routine night for Joshua, but a return win matters with Fury waiting — my prediction inside
June 23, 2026
Boxing Lookout
Right Then, AJ Is Back
Right then,
Anthony Joshua is back in the ring on July 25, facing
Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It's a tune-up, plain and simple — a chance to knock off the ring rust and stay sharp with the
Tyson Fury superfight waiting at the end of the year.
Fury's Verdict
Never one to keep his opinions to himself,
Fury has already had his say on Prenga's boxing ability. The Gypsy King is eyeing his own interim outing in August before the pair finally collide, and you can bet he's watching AJ's every move. Make no mistake, the mind games between these two have started long before the bell.
What To Expect From Prenga
Prenga is the kind of opponent you'd expect for a stay-busy night — game, durable, but a sizeable step below the elite. For
Joshua, the job is simple: look sharp, get rounds or get a statement knockout, and come through without a scratch. Anything less and the questions start.
The Prediction
I'm not going to overthink this one. Joshua is levels above Prenga and he knows exactly what's riding on staying unbeaten through to Fury. I expect AJ to take his time early, find his range, and then close the show. Joshua inside four rounds, and then all eyes turn to the Gypsy King.
If both men do their jobs this summer, we get the fight British boxing has waited a decade for. For now, AJ just needs to look the part — and against Prenga, he should.
