Joshua Names Wardley Among His Targets

Anthony Joshua returns on July 25 against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, his first fight of 2026 and the performance he needs to deliver before the bigger conversations around his career's final chapter can move forward.

Tyson Fury remains the most discussed name in those conversations. But Joshua has made clear he is not waiting for any particular outcome or holding out for any particular opponent. If you are a heavyweight, he will fight you. That list includes Fabio Wardley.

"I'll fight Fabio, I'll fight all of them, 'cause it's what we do. There's none of this 'oh I don't want to fight him, I don't want to fight that person.' That's not where my head's at. My head is in a totally different space from anyone who says 'Oh, I don't want to.' Give me work,” Joshua

The Wardley mention carries weight precisely because of how rarely elite heavyweights make it. The Ipswich man is unbeaten and has spent years watching the division's bigger names find reasons to look elsewhere.

Joshua naming him without hesitation, in the same breath as confirming his general willingness to fight anyone, is the kind of statement that lands differently when it comes from a former two-time world champion rather than a promotional team trying to generate attention.

Joshua's broader comments reflected a man who has made peace with where he is and what remains in front of him. The Dubois loss in September 2024, a fifth-round knockout defeat that handed him his second career stoppage, could have ended that peace. It appears to have reinforced it instead.

"I fought Dubois, and I got knocked out, and I'm still standing strong here, and I gave a good account of myself, and I'm going to go out there and give my best again," he said. "For me, I want it all. I will fight everyone, and that's why I still do it. I've got so much improvement to do. This is my true identity as a fighter. I've got the love for it, the passion. It's tough, don't get me wrong,” Joshua

Prenga on July 25 is the immediate task. A convincing performance there keeps the Fury conversation alive and opens the door to whatever combination of Wardley, Dubois rematch, or other significant fight his team can arrange.