Anthony Joshua stated Monday he would not celebrate that a deal has finally been struck for a heavyweight clash with rival Tyson Fury until after he wins.
“I’m not pleased because the pleasure really comes after victory,” said Joshua. “Signing a contract doesn’t mean anything. Winning is the only true success.”
The boxers are heading for a long-awaited ‘Battle of Britain,’ probably in November, but before then, both boxers are eyeing a warm-up fight.
Joshua will face unheralded Albanian Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on July 25 in his first fight after being engaged in a vehicle accident in Nigeria last December that killed two of his close friends.
Fury this week shared an Instagram story with a video of himself practicing in Thailand with the comment, “Let’s go, August 1, Dublin, Ireland.”
Fury, 37, might appear on a program assembled by veteran promoter Frank Warren in the Irish capital on that date.
No opponent has been announced yet, but Warren has ruled out Fury facing Andy Ruiz Jr, who dethroned Joshua as world champion in 2019 before losing the rematch later that year.
Joshua argued on Monday that it was time to return to work as he prepared to face little-known Prenga.
The bout was originally slated to take place in Riyadh, but at their pre-fight news conference, it was revealed that it had been shifted to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city.
Joshua, 36, has not faced a major opponent since being defeated by Daniel Dubois in September 2023.
“What does boxing give me? It gives me an opportunity to work. I’m a contractor, this is a contract, this is my job, so I’ve got an opportunity to work,” Joshua said.
“You have to put a road map in front of a fighter and show them what is point one, point two, point three. It gives purpose and focus. I know what my year looks like.
“Give me the opportunity to fight Prenga, give me the opportunity to fight Fury, give me the opportunity to fight for the championship.
“It isn’t about looking past anyone; it’s just knowing your purpose and knowing your steps forward and moving up the ladder.
“I’ve got a clear goal, I know what this year is about, and I know how tough this year is going to be. I’ve been training hard; that’s my life.”
