Anthony Joshua says he is stronger than ever as the road to Tyson Fury kicks off against Kristian Prenga | Debate News

Anthony Joshua is enjoying getting back to where he lives and doing what he loves, as he ramps up preparations for his fight with Tyson Fury.

The two-time heavyweight champion has been away from boxing for a long time following the tragic death of two friends in a car accident in Nigeria.

Joshua will make his first appearance since defeating Jake Paul in December 2025 when he faces Albania’s Kristian Prenga in Jeddah on July 25.

Specially speaking Sky SportsJoshua explained how he will be stronger – physically and mentally – than ever when he returns to the ring.

“I feel strong,” he said. “This is where I want to be. I’m very grateful for this opportunity. It’s fun doing what I love.

“Life gives us many obstacles. I am standing in front of you now as a boxer, but there are things happening in my life. I think this is the right place for me to be.

“I’m building myself to be stronger than ever because I know myself – not just physically, because that’s natural, but mentally. I’ve realized that I’m stronger than I thought.

“I got into boxing to fix my mind and myself, to become a better person. It’s doing the same to me now. It’s changing my life and giving me purpose.

“It’s funny because the same reason I got into boxing is the same way it’s helping me now. Boxing wasn’t just about being a champion, it was about the mentality of the title.”

‘Confidence comes from your training’

Prenga represents the final step in Joshua’s journey towards a long-awaited fight with British heavyweight contender Fury.

Seven months will have passed by the time Joshua returns to the ring on fight night.

He hopes that Prenga’s belt will give him enough time to sharpen up, although he admits that the training camp, with the squad working under Oleksandr Usyk, will be very important.

“I want to make combinations go,” he said. “I want to throw power punches.

“What I’d like to see is my eyes on the change in his body, being able to break him and do what I know I can do. I can punch hard, and if I do that it will give me confidence going into the Fury fight.

“Confidence comes from your training. The fight is about achieving that, so it’s not just the fight that gives me confidence.

“It ends in these seven weeks because everybody who’s fought knows it’s tough. You’ve got little partners – I’ve got four or five good guys waiting for me – so it’s not just a fight.

“I know what I’m going to do in the fight, but can I do it every day in the gym? Going through this training camp will be the real reason I win on July 25 because of the way I’m preparing.”

Joshua sheds light on the inner workings of the deal brokered by boxing king Turki Alalshikh that finally made the fight that defined a generation – ten years in the making – a reality.

“It’s amazing,” added Joshua.

“Your Honor and my management, Matchroom Boxing, sat down together and went through the nitty-gritty. They were able to put together two fights, the first against Prenga, the second against Fury.

“I signed that contract and I’m happy to be in a position where I know where I am now and what I have to do to get to the end of the year.

“It’s clear that no one has ignored me, but this is a contract that was not presented to me. It’s good to have a job. There are about eight weeks left before my fight with Prenga. He is a living opponent. I will do my best and move forward.”

‘Now feels like the right time’ – AJ wants Fury to go head-to-head

Joshua’s long overdue match with Fury gained momentum while watching Gypsy King’s victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in April.

Fury called Joshua out after winning his unanimous decision at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, AJ declined the invitation to join him in the ring.

“The landlord is not moving,” explained Joshua. “There was no rent at the time – contracts hadn’t been signed or agreed.

“We sat down after that and said look, I don’t want to enter the ring and lead anyone, nothing has been agreed upon.

“I was there on a scouting mission. That was my goal. I achieved it. I saw what I saw. And then there were all these other things after that. I didn’t think it was the right thing to do, but now I’m happy to talk about it.”

With the two-fight deal signed, sealed and released, Joshua is ready to face Fury.

“If Fury was with me now, I would face each other because there is a reason now,” he continued. “That was the mindset before – it wasn’t the right time – but now it’s time.

“If he’s there, if he wants to get in the ring and I get a win, he can 100 percent get in my ring, where I live.

“I’m inviting him to my house. He can come to the landlord’s house. You’re welcome anytime.”