Anthony Joshua to Face Kristian Prenga in Jeddah on July 25

Anthony Joshua Set for Jeddah Return Against Kristian Prenga

Jeddah Venue Shift and Promotional Tensions

The fight was originally slated for Riyadh but was moved to Jeddah, according to reports from June 1. While organizers provided no official reason for the venue change, the move occurred amid broader regional instability. The event will be available via DAZN PPV. The promotional landscape surrounding the heavyweight division remains contentious; Dana White recently claimed in a conversation with content creator Nina Drama that he would be promoting the potential Fury-Joshua clash. Eddie Hearn, who has promoted Joshua since the fighter turned professional following his 2012 Olympic gold medal win, publicly refuted these claims. Via Instagram, Hearn labeled the assertion contractually impossible and called White a “clout chaser.”

Joshua’s Comeback and Motivation

For Joshua, the fight is an emotional return following a car accident in Nigeria last December that tragically killed two of his close friends. Joshua has since been training with Oleksandr Usyk to prepare for his comeback. Reflecting on his mental state, Joshua told Sky Sports, I'm building myself up to be stronger than I've ever been because I know I am — not only physically, because that's natural, but mentally. I've realised I'm a lot stronger than I ever thought I was. He added, I got into boxing to reshape my mind and identity, to make me a better person. It's doing the same for me now.

Joshua’s career path has been distinct from his opponent’s. After turning professional in 2013, he became a two-time heavyweight world champion. His resume includes a 2017 victory over Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley to unify titles – adding the WBA belt to his collection, and a 2018 win over Joseph Parker to claim the WBO belt. Following a 2019 loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. and successive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022, Joshua has embarked on a four-fight winning streak to earn the opportunity to become a three-time world champion.

Kristian Prenga: The Underdog’s Opportunity

While Joshua is a seasoned world-level contender, 35-year-old Kristian Prenga enters the bout as a significant underdog. Prenga carries knockout power, having won his last 16 fights by knockout or technical knockout. Despite this streak, he has never established himself as a world-level contender in the heavyweight division. According to reports, this bout represents the biggest of Prenga’s career by some distance, as he has spent his career scrapping at a lower grade.

Future Prospects and Broadcast Details

Beyond the immediate fight, promoter Dr. Ezekiel Adamu has speculated on the potential for future events in Nigeria. Adamu suggested that a blockbuster fight between Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma in Nigeria could create more global interest than Muhammad Ali’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle’. It's a global fight. We'll get some huge numbers when it comes to viewership, Adamu told Sky Sports.

For those following the action on July 25, radio commentary from Jeddah will begin from about 20:30 BST on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website and app. The coverage will be presented from ringside by Jonathan Overend, alongside two-weight world champion Natasha Jonas and boxing expert Steve Bunce. Live text commentary is scheduled to begin at 20:00 BST.

Regarding the potential future clash with Fury, Joshua has expressed a measured perspective on the negotiations. I’m not pleased because the pleasure really comes after victory, Joshua said on June 1. Signing a contract doesn’t mean anything. Winning is the only true success.