Anthony Joshua Returns: Undercard Revealed Ahead of July 27 Comeback Fight

Anthony Joshua will return to the ring on July 27 in Jeddah, with the full undercard for his comeback fight against Kristian Prenga now announced. The former two-time heavyweight champion, who last fought Jake Paul in a sixth-round knockout on December 17, 2025, will finally step back into action seven months after a near-fatal car crash in Nigeria claimed the lives of close friends Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami.

What’s on the undercard?

The card features a mix of title defenses and rising prospects. In the co-main event, Hamzah Sheeraz will defend his WBO super middleweight title against Simon Zachenhuber, while Josh Kelly makes the first defense of his IBF super welterweight belt against Caoimhin Agyarko. Olympic gold medalist Oleksandr Khyzhniak will make his second professional walkthrough against Lenny Patrach, and British flyweight Mikie Tallon returns after a layoff to face Orlando Pino.

Why Joshua’s return matters

Joshua’s fight with Prenga is a critical step toward a long-awaited rematch with Tyson Fury, who will face Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, on July 24. The Brit revealed last month he was ready to return sooner but needed extra time to reach peak physical condition. “Physically, I just got to get back to sparring,” Joshua said. “Mentally, I’m very strong. But I needed that extra time.”

What’s next for AJ?

A win over Prenga would set up a Fury showdown later this year. Joshua’s training camp has been grueling, with the 33-year-old pushing himself harder than ever. “It’s been good,” he added. “I’m in a good place for today.” Fans will be watching closely to see if he can reclaim his dominance before the ultimate test against Fury.