Anthony Joshua returns to the ring for his first bout of 2026, with a long-awaited heavyweight showdown against British rival Tyson Fury in his sights.
But the former two-time unified world champion knows he can afford no slip-ups against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Albanian knockout artist Prenga has claimed all 20 of his career victories inside the distance and suffered his only defeat on points nine and a half years ago. However, 2012 Olympic champion Joshua represents a huge step up in class.
The object of the exercise for Joshua has been to get another training camp under his belt with Oleksandr Usyk’s team. That union got its first runout in last December’s lucrative matchup with Jake Paul, a bout that did wonders for Joshua’s profile in the United States. It also featured a showreel knockout, as he broke Paul’s jaw in two places, but it had scant sporting merit.
This is also Joshua’s first fight since the injuries he sustained in the fatal car accident that tragically killed two of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. The trio were on vacation in Nigeria, where Joshua has family roots, in the days after the Paul fight.
The Joshua vs. Prenga undercard is deep and features two of AJ’s compatriots in world title action, along with a handful of rising stars.
Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga undercard
Here’s a breakdown of all the action on the Joshua vs. Prenga card.
Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Simon Zachenhuber
- Division/Weight: Super Middleweight
- Sheeraz record: 23-0-1
- Zachenhuber record: 29-1
- Belts at stake: WBO
After Sheeraz’s blowout first defence of his WBO crown, when he demolished Alem Begic inside two rounds on the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven undercard in May, this looks like a bout that could go the same way.
Like Begic, Zachenhuber has built an imposing record in modest company. A six-round points defeat to Pawel August on the initial Chris Eubank vs. Conor Benn bill last April, and the fact he has not boxed for 11 months, has not dissuaded the WBO from the notion that the 28-year-old German southpaw is a worthy contender.
Sheeraz needs to take care of business efficiently and then put unification showdowns or a possible match-up with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on the agenda. He’s far too good to be wasting his time with stay-busy fights of this ilk.
Josh Kelly vs. Caoimhin Agyarko
- Division/Weight: Super Welterweight
- Kelly record: 18-1-1
- Agyarko record: 18-0
- Belts at stake: IBF
Kelly climbed off the canvas and hung on to rip the IBF title from feared puncher Bakhram Murtazaliev in January, an early fight-of-the-year contender.
This first defence for the 2016 Olympian feels well-matched and could be a nip-and-tuck distance fight with little to choose between the fighters at the final bell.
Agyarko has struggled to ignite a promising career since debuting back in 2018. He was fortunate to get a split decision win over Ishmael Davis last September and must grasp this opportunity with both hands.
Reito Tsutsumi vs. Alvino Herrera
- Division/Weight: Super Featherweight
- Tsutsumi record: 4-0
- Herrera record: 18-0-2
Former amateur world champion Tsutsumi has the backing of Turki Alalshikh and Ring Magazine as he continues his professional journey with another step up.
The 23-year-old southpaw impressed as he stopped Leobardo Quintana in four rounds last December and Mexican opposition is on the agenda once more. Herrera is on an 11-fight winning streak and has 11 career stoppages, albeit with all contests in his homeland against unremarkable opposition.
Oleksandr Khyzhniak vs. Lenny Patrach
- Division/Weight: Light Heavyweight
- Khyzhniak record: 1-0
- Patrach record: 8-0-1
Khyzhniak is poised to become professional boxing’s next Ukrainian superstar after a stellar amateur career that crescendoed with middleweight gold at Paris 2024, having lost via stoppage to Brazil’s Herbert Conceicao in the Tokyo final three years earlier.
At 30, Khyzhiniak is going to have to move quickly after his first-round win on debut against Wilmer Baron in March. Patrach is young and raw but, with five wins by knockout, the 20-year-old Frenchman dubbed “The Gipsy Tank” should approach his task fearlessly.
Mikie Tallon vs. Orlando Pino
- Division/Weight: Super Flyweight
- Tallon record: 14-0
- Pino record: 17-3
Undefeated British prospect Tallon has shown signs of starting to sit down on his punches, claiming two stoppages in his past four outings.
Pino has won his past two fights via TKO after a slump of three defeats in four.
Ziyad Almaayouf vs. Frank Lucian
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Almaayouf record: 7-1-1
- Lucian record: 8-1
Almaayouf, one of Saudi boxing’s great hopes, has a rebuild to begin after suffering a maiden career defeat last time out. The 26-year-old dropped Kevin Castillo in the opening round but then suffered a relatively wide points loss.
A six-round draw with Juan Carlos Ramirez is Almaayouf’s other blemish, and he must hope Tanzania’s Lucian — on a seven-fight winning streak — is made to measure.
Nishant Dev vs. Cesar Diaz
- Division/Weight: Super Welterweight
- Dev record: 6-0
- Diaz record: 10-2
Rising Indian star Dev returns to action after a second-round stoppage of Juan Carlos Guerra Jr. in Las Vegas in April.
Diaz had won four fights in succession by stoppage before losing all six rounds against Hector Beltran in February.
Jacob Bank vs. Pawel August
- Division/Weight: Super Middleweight
- Bank record: 19-0
- August record: 18-0
Bank is a super middleweight who appears to be going places and has stopped former world champions Tyron Zeuge and William Scull inside the past 12 months. Paulinus Ndjolonimu suffered a similar fate in Bank’s most recent outing.
The 25-year-old Dane is ranked second by the WBO and holds the organisation’s ‘global’ title. August beat Simon Zachenhuber over six rounds last year. Why neither of these men are fighting Sheeraz is anyone’s guess.
Where to watch Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga
- Live Stream: DAZN
- PPV Price: $59.99 (US), £19.99 (UK)
Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga will be available on DAZN worldwide.
The PPV price is $59.99 in the United States and £19.99 in the UK. You can also sign up to the DAZN Ultimate package to watch PPV boxing at no extra cost. DAZN Ultimate subscription is $44.99 monthly in the US and £24.99 in the UK.
This premium subscription tier includes a minimum of 12 pay‑per‑view boxing events per year, along with over 185 fight nights annually.
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