The heavyweight boxing world is building toward one of the biggest potential fights of the decade — Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua — but before that happens, two Albanian fighters are now directly part of the road leading there.

Anthony Joshua is officially scheduled to face Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga on July 25, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight marks Joshua’s return to the ring after a long break and is widely seen as a comeback bout before discussions over a Fury showdown later in the year.

Kristian Prenga enters the fight as one of the most experienced Albanian heavyweights competing internationally, and this will be the biggest opportunity of his career against a former unified world champion.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are still expected to meet in a long-discussed super-fight later in 2026, although the exact date and venue have not yet been officially confirmed. The July tune-up fights for both boxers are seen as the final step before negotiations for the mega-fight move forward.

Alongside Prenga’s confirmed bout, Albanian heavyweight Nelson Hysa has also been mentioned in boxing circles as a possible opponent for Tyson Fury in a separate warm-up fight. However, unlike Prenga, Hysa has not been officially confirmed and no contract or formal announcement has been made. Fury is currently scheduled to face Mariusz Wach on July 24, 2026.

Together, these developments place Albanian boxing in a rare spotlight at the highest level of the sport. One Albanian fighter is officially stepping into the ring with a former world champion, while another has been linked in discussions around the preparations of a future undisputed heavyweight clash.

For now, all attention is on July, where the immediate path toward Fury vs Joshua will begin to take