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From Saudi with Love: How has Joshua fared in the Middle East?
Anthony Joshua will bid to tee up his Tyson Fury super-bout with minimal fuss when he faces Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia.
The Briton will return to the ring for the first time in 2026 for a tune-up test this July, live on DAZN Pay-Per-View and Ultimate.
Success for Joshua should all but confirm what fight fans have longed to see - a mega-clash with rival Fury - at the year's end.
But before that, 'AJ' must dispatch relative unknown Prenga, preferably in a manner that shows he still possesses top-tier skills.
What has Joshua has learnt from Usyk?
Watch: AJ reveals what training with his former foe has been like
More pertinently, it returns the star to Saudi, where he has fought four times thus far and helped to usher in the super-card era.
So just how has Joshua fared when he has touched down in the Gulf state before? DAZN News takes a look back to consider.
Andy Ruiz Jr. II (December 2019)
Joshua arrived in Saudi Arabia for the first time on the back of a shattering career low - a first professional loss to Andy Ruiz Jr..
The star's hopes of conquering America had been detonated at Madison Square Garden by his underdog opponent's stoppage.
It led to this rematch, half the world away for both men, at the Diriyah Arena, helping to launch a new era of sport in the country.
'AJ' claimed his revenge, winning a handy unanimous decision to regather his unified heavyweight crown, and get back on track.
Oleksandr Usyk II (August 2022)
As before, Joshua's return to the Gulf came on the back of defeat, having lost his titles for a second time against Oleksandr Usyk.
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But there would be no redemption here. At Jeddah's King Abdullah Sports City, the Briton came up short in a narrow split decision.
The fight's aftermath - in which Joshua threw his belts and gave a rambling, often bizarre post-bout speech - is just as memorable.
Clearly though, a mutual respect has blossomed further since. The star and Usyk have trained together since the start of the year.
Otto Wallin (December 2023)
Two wins back on home turf helped tee up what Joshua saw as the start of a run towards a third world title reign with this bout here.
'AJ' made his bow in Riyadh, at the Kingdom Arena, for a bout with Sweden's Otto Wallin after a clash with Deontay Wilder fell apart.
In the event, Joshua made short work of his opponent, forcing him into a five-round retirement in a turn harking back to his best form.
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Plans to meet Wilder though were iced by the American's loss on the same card to Joseph Parker, in a significant turn of events.
Francis Ngannou (March 2024)
Just three months later, Joshua was back at the Kingdom Arena, where he found himself up against crossover star Francis Ngannou.
The latter had caused Tyson Fury some serious headaches in a bout the previous year, pushing 'The Gypsy King' from the first round.
'AJ' was determined for no similar repeat however, and left nothing to chance. He needed just two rounds to dispatch his foe instead.
It moved him to three wins and one loss on Saudi Arabian soil as well - a record he hopes to bolster when he tangles with Prenga next.
Joshua vs. Prenga - exclusively on DAZN PPV
Watch Anthony Joshua's hugely anticipated return to the ring versus Kristian Prenga on Saturday, July 25 only on DAZN PPV. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with Itauma vs. Hrgovic and Canelo vs. Mbilli PPVs, with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
