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Anthony Joshua v Kristian Prenga: Everything we know about the fight - and how it could impact Tyson Fury showdown

Anthony Joshua is set to make his long-awaited return to the boxing ring in his first fight since surviving a car crash that killed two of his friends.

The former two-time world heavyweight champion takes on Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on Saturday - a day after his long-standing rival Tyson Fury overcame veteran Polish fighter Mariusz Wach in the seventh round in Pattaya, Thailand.

The British pair are set to fight later this year, but while no date or venue has been set, speculation is rife that they will meet at Wembley Stadium in November.

Here, Sky News takes a look at AJ's comeback and what it might mean for the hugely-anticipated Joshua-Fury fight.

:: Who is Anthony Joshua facing?

AJ takes on Albanian Kristian Prenga, who is 35 and boasts a record of 20 wins, all by stoppage, and one loss.

Based in New Jersey, Prenga stands 6ft 5in (195cm), fractionally shorter than Joshua, who has won 29 of his 33 professional fights and lost four.

The pair were born three months apart.

Prenga, who made his professional debut in 2019, three years after Joshua, takes a 16-fight winning streak into Saturday's bout, albeit without having fought any of the division's big names.

He clearly carries a knockout threat, having won all of his 20 victories in that manner, but is viewed as an underdog.

:: When and where are they fighting?

Joshua, 36, is taking on Prenga in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah on Saturday night, UK time.

There is no belt on the line at the Jeddah Superdome.

The opponents are expected to enter the ring at around 11pm, BST.

:: Joshua's return to the ring

The Prenga fight is Anthony Joshua's first since December's car crash in Nigeria, which claimed the lives of two of his closest friends and members of his team, Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele.

The British-Nigerian boxer was travelling in the back of a black SUV when it hit a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos.

Joshua, who was born in Watford to Nigerian parents, was on holiday in the West African country and suffered minor injuries.

The tragedy came 10 days after he defeated YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami.

He last beat an established heavyweight when fighting Otto Wallin in December 2023.

:: How might the fight affect Joshua's proposed Fury meeting

It's a pivotal weekend for the proposed Joshua-Fury fight, as both British boxers are in action, with 37-year-old Fury enjoying a straightforward win over Mariusz Wach, 46, in Thailand on Friday.

Defeat for Joshua may complicate negotiations around his fight with Fury, talks which have already lasted years.

Presuming it's held in the UK, the Joshua-Fury contest is bound to be a sell-out, but anything other than a convincing win for AJ might lower the hype.

If Joshua enjoys a comfortable victory, like Fury's, the impact will be minor, as both Britons are expected to win, but the hype will continue unabated.

:: What have Fury and Joshua said about each other's fights?

The fight hasn't been confirmed, but the typical pre-fight trash talk has already begun.

Fury, known as The Gypsy King, has referred to his rival as "Mr Bodybuilder" in response to questions about his own slimmed-down physique ahead of the Wach fight.

He also said he is prepared to face "somebody else" later this year, which could throw the Joshua fight into doubt.

Joshua said he was determined to focus on Prenga, rather than Fury, saying: "I understand there is a big picture. The goal is to conquer the universe, right? But first we must conquer Earth. My target is here."

He said he would not care if The Gypsy King was ringside for Saturday's bout.

Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, was much more bullish when asked if Joshua might refuse the Fury fight, telling Sky Sports: "Look at history. Check the facts, check the resume. If you really want to pick one fighter who's more reliable than the other, I don't think it's a close-run race.

"What fight has AJ ever signed for that he's not competed in? What fight has AJ ever pulled out of?

"He's got the most solid resume and the most professional attitude of any fighter I've ever worked with. Can we say the same about Tyson Fury? No. That's the reality of the situation."

Sky News

(c) Sky News 2026: Anthony Joshua v Kristian Prenga: Everything we know about the fight - and how

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