Two world title fights now anchor the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s return in Jeddah, with Hamzah Sheeraz and Josh Kelly both defending belts on July 25 at the Jeddah Superdome.
Turki Alalshikh confirmed the full lineup for “The Comeback,” the Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga heavyweight main event staged as part of Jeddah Calendar in collaboration with Riyadh Season. The card streams worldwide on DAZN.
Sheeraz makes the first defense of the WBO World Super Middleweight Championship against Simon Zachenhuber. Sheeraz won the vacant title in May with a stoppage of Alem Begic inside the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, and now returns just two months later for his maiden defense.
Kelly puts his IBF World Super Welterweight Championship on the line against unbeaten Irish challenger Caoimhin Agyarko. The Sunderland fighter claimed the belt with a majority decision over Bakhram Murtazaliev in Newcastle back in January. Belfast’s Agyarko gets his first world title opportunity after his IBF eliminator was cancelled at late notice earlier this year. The two title bouts were first floated by Eddie Hearn back in June and are now locked in.
The rest of the card leans heavily on prospects and home-soil talent. Reito Tsutsumi returns to Saudi Arabia following a stoppage win on the “Night of the Samurai” bill in Riyadh last December, meeting undefeated Mexican Alvino Herrera. Olympic gold medalist Oleksandr Khyzhniak makes just the second appearance of his professional career against unbeaten Frenchman Lenny Patrach.
Liverpool flyweight Mikie Tallon makes his Saudi Arabian debut against Venezuela’s Orlando Pino, while India’s Olympian Nishant Dev continues his professional start against Peru’s Cesar Diaz.
Pawel August, fresh off a major upset of the previously unbeaten Zachenhuber on the Fury vs. Makhmudov card, now faces unbeaten Dane Jacob Bank. Three of Saudi Arabia’s leading professionals also feature, with Mohammed Alakel, Ziyad Almaayouf and Sultan Almohammed all in action against Lydon Chircop, Frank Mango and Efren Besalduch respectively.
Egypt’s Omar Hikal and Mohamed Mabrouk round out the international prospect contingent, facing Brian Castellano and Bryan Zapata.
The Joshua vs. Prenga headliner marks Joshua’s first appearance since his six-round stoppage of Jake Paul in December. Fight Week begins Wednesday, July 22 with the Grand Arrivals at Jeddah Yacht Club, followed by the press conference on Thursday and the weigh-in on Friday at Jeddah Promenade. Tickets are on sale via the WeBook app.
