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Anthony Joshua Set for First Fight Since Tragic Car Accident

Anthony Joshua is back. On April 27, 2026, it was officially confirmed that the former two-time unified heavyweight champion will return to the ring on July 25, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, against Albanian knockout artist Kristian Prenga. The fight is billed as “The Comeback” and ends months of uncertainty following one of the most tragic events in recent British sporting history.

The Car Crash That Stopped Everything

On December 29, 2025, just ten days after Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in Miami, a fatal car crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Nigeria changed everything. Joshua was traveling in a Lexus SUV that collided with a parked truck while attempting to overtake, with preliminary findings suggesting the vehicle was exceeding the legal speed limit.

Two of his closest friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, were killed. Joshua survived with minor injuries and was hospitalized briefly before being confirmed stable. Ghami was his strength and conditioning coach. Ayodele was his personal trainer, a man who had been with Joshua since the earliest days of his career.

The Road Back to the Ring

After the accident, it was unclear how long Joshua’s physical and mental recovery would take, and questions were raised about retirement. He has since resumed training alongside former rival Oleksandr Usyk, with the Ukrainian stating he believes Joshua can become undisputed champion by 2027.

On April 11, 2026, Joshua was ringside in London as Tyson Fury defeated Arslanbek Makhmudov on his own comeback. Fury pointed at Joshua from the ring. Joshua refused to face off publicly, stating he would only do so once a fight was signed. Within two weeks, it was.

Fight Details: Joshua vs Prenga

Detail	Info
Date	July 25, 2026
Venue	Boulevard City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Broadcast	DAZN (worldwide)
Title at Stake	WBC World Heavyweight Championship
Joshua Record	28-4, 25 KOs
Prenga Record	20-1, 20 KOs (100% finish rate)

Joshua confirmed the date on his social media, posting: “Back active. July 25th. Live on DAZN.” In his official statement, he said he had taken time to consolidate and rebuild, and that the multi-fight deal starting July 25 was the next step on that journey.

Who Is Kristian Prenga?

Prenga has a 100% knockout record, with all 20 of his victories coming inside the distance. His most recent win came in February 2026, stopping Joe Jones inside the first round. The opposition he has faced is well below Joshua’s level, making this fight a controlled return for AJ rather than a true test of championship calibre.

Prenga, however, is not playing along. “Anthony Joshua is a great fighter, but he made a terrible miscalculation in picking me as his opponent. I will derail their plans and shock the world this July in Saudi Arabia,” he said. A heavy underdog who punches hard is always worth taking seriously, particularly given Joshua’s history of being stopped.

The Bigger Picture: Joshua vs Fury Is Signed

Nobody is pretending this is the main event of 2026. The Prenga fight is the qualifier. If Joshua comes through Prenga unscathed, he will finally fight Tyson Fury at the end of 2026 in arguably the most anticipated showdown in British boxing history, live on Netflix.

Eddie Hearn has set November as a potential time for the long-awaited Fury showdown, and Turki Alalshikh confirmed the deal is signed, posting to British fans: “It is happening. It is signed.” Ring Magazine has also confirmed it as a done deal, targeting Q4 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Anthony Joshua’s next fight?

July 25, 2026, against Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

What happened to Anthony Joshua in the car accident?

On December 29, 2025, Joshua survived a fatal crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Nigeria. Two of his team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, were killed. Joshua sustained minor injuries and was discharged after observation.