Anthony Joshua is on a collision course with Tyson Fury, but he will have to get through Kristian Prenga first this weekend.
The unknown Albanian heavyweight has been selected as a tune-up opponent for AJ ahead of the long-awaited all-British showdown, tentatively pencilled in for November.
Prenga (20-1) isn’t expected to cause Joshua too many problems, though he does boast a 100 per cent knockout ratio.
That being said, the 35-year-old has never fought anyone close to Joshua’s calibre, while his sole defeat came at the hands of a journeyman with a losing record.
Joshua (29-4) hasn’t set foot in the ring since his knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
Shortly after the win, he was involved in a fatal car accident that killed two of his close friends and left him in the hospital with minor injuries.
Joshua will look to blow off the cobwebs against Prenga before the big one at the end of the year.
Fury is taking on Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand on Friday night in his warm-up bout.
Joshua vs Prenga: Date, time and how to follow
Joshua is set to square off with Prenga on Saturday, July 25.
It will take place at Jeddah Superdome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The undercard will get going from 6pm with the main event expected at around 11pm.
talkSPORT will have live commentary of the fight with John Rawling, Paul Smith, Spencer Oliver and Adam Catterall.
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Coverage starts at 7pm on the talkSPORT App and from 10pm on talkSPORT for the main event.
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talkSPORT.com will also be running a live blog throughout the night, as well as our usual fight reports.
The fight will be broadcast on DAZN and can be watched at no extra cost by DAZN Ultimate members.
For standard subscribers, the fight will cost a one-off payment of £19.99.
Joshua vs Prenga: Undercard
Subject to change
- Main event: Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga – Heavyweight
- Hamzah Sheeraz vs Simon Zachenhuber – Super-middleweight
- Josh Kelly vs Caoimhin Agyarko – Super-welterweight
- Reito Tsutsumi vs Alvino Herrera Meza – Super-featherweight
- Oleksandr Khyzhniak vs Lenny Patrach – Light-heavyweight
- Jacob Bank vs Pawel August – Super-middleweight
- Mikie Tallon vs Orlando Pino – Super-flyweight
- Nishant Dev vs Cesar Diaz – Super-welterweight
- Ziyad Almaayouf vs Frank Lucian Mango – Welterweight
- Mohammed Alakel vs Lydon Chircop – Lightweight
- Sultan Almohammed vs Efren Besalduch – Super-featherweight
- Omar Hikal vs Brian Castellano – Super-middleweight
- Mohamed Mabrouk Yehya vs Bryan Zapata – Super-lightweight
Boxing schedule
For all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s boxing schedule.
Joshua vs Prenga: What has been said?
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.”
Prenga added: “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.”
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