Anthony Joshua insists beating rival Tyson Fury matters more than signing fight deal

[p][b]"I'm not pleased because the pleasure really comes after victory," [/b]said [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/joshua-anthony/WnlqLAvo/"]Joshua[/a].[b] "Signing a contract doesn't mean anything. Winning is the only true success."[/b][/p][p]The pair are heading for a long-awaited 'Battle of Britain', probably in November, but before both boxers are eyeing a warm-up fight.[/p][p]Joshua will face unheralded Albanian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/prenga-kristian/MuK3jJLa/"]Kristian Prenga[/a] in Saudi Arabia on July 25th in his first bout since being involved in a car crash in Nigeria last December, which killed two of his close friends.[/p][p]Fury last week posted a video in an Instagram story showing him back in training in Thailand alongside the caption: "Let's go August 1st, Dublin, Ireland."[/p][p]Fury, 37, could take a place on a card being put together by veteran promoter Frank Warren in the Irish capital on that date.[/p][p]No opponent has yet been named, although Warren has ruled out Fury fighting [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruiz-andy-jr/SCOVuRAS/"]Andy Ruiz Jr[/a], who dethroned Joshua as world champion in 2019 before losing the rematch later that year.[/p][embed guid="36de057e-f0db-43b8-84b0-fc2c0c9883d5" url="https://x.com/i/status/2061506546597552447" social-type="twitter" /][p]On Monday, Joshua insisted it was time to get back to work as he prepares to take on little-known Prenga.[/p][p]The fight was originally scheduled to take place in Riyadh, but at their head-to-head press conference, it was revealed that it has been moved to Jeddah - Saudi Arabia's second largest city.[/p][p]The 36-year-old Joshua has not fought a meaningful opponent since being knocked out by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dubois-daniel/G0otNoYd/"]Daniel Dubois[/a] in September 2024.[/p][p][b]"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," [/b]Joshua said.[/p][p][b]"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.[/b][/p][p]"Give me the opportunity to fight Prenga, give me the opportunity to fight Fury, give me the opportunity to fight for the championship.[/p][p][b]"It ain't about looking past anyone, it's just knowing your purpose and knowing your steps forward and moving up the ladder.[/b][/p][p][b]"I've got a clear goal, I know what this year is about, I know how tough this year is going to be. I've been training hard, that's my life."[/b][/p]