Anthony Joshua is to face Tyson Fury later this year after promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed a deal to stage the biggest fight in British boxing history has been signed.
Joshua will face Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga in Riyadh on July 25 as a warm-up for his long-awaited showdown with his British rival Fury, which is expected to take place in November and be shown on Netflix.
“Signed, sealed, delivered! AJ v Fury is on!” Hearn said on Instagram on Monday.
“The biggest piece of business we’ve ever done but more importantly the one we’ve always wanted. Biggest year of AJ’s career coming up, the comeback is on.”
Former world heavyweight champion Joshua will take on Prenga in the Briton’s first fight since he was in a car accident last December that killed two close friends.
US-based Albanian Prenga, 35, is a former kickboxer with a ring record of 20 wins and one defeat since he turned professional in 2016.
The fight, billed as “The Comeback”, was announced on Monday by Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alalshikh and will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN.
Joshua, 36, has a record of 28 wins and four losses with his most recent fight a sixth-round knockout of American Jake Paul on December 19 in Miami.
“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,” said Joshua.
“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. The landlord will collect his rent. That is certain.”
Referring to the Fury fight, Hearn explained: “July and November are the two dates that have been presented to us now and we expect to move forward.
“Fury has just had his tune-up fight with 12 really vital rounds to get him sharp for the next one and I expect us to do the same.”
Fury had called for a showdown with Joshua after he outclassed Russia’s Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11.
“Next, I want to give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for. I want you AJ, Anthony Joshua, let’s give the fight fans what they want, the Battle of Britain,” he said then.
With PA
https://thewest.com.au/sport/boxing/fury-v-aj-long-awaited-heavyweight-showdown-is-on-c-22199982
