Noakes (18-1, 16 KOs) is looking to rebound from the first defeat of his professional career after dropping a competitive decision to Abdullah Mason last November in Saudi Arabia. The entertaining contest earned Fight of the Year consideration, but it also halted the momentum the 28-year-old had built toward a world title shot.

He returned in May for a low-risk outing, stopping Benito Sanchez Garcia in two rounds at York Hall.

Berinchyk (19-1, 9 KOs) would represent a step up from that assignment, although he’s hardly entering the fight with momentum of his own. The 38-year-old Ukrainian hasn’t fought since suffering a fourth-round stoppage loss to Keyshawn Davis on February 14, 2025, when he lost the WBO lightweight title.

While Berinchyk’s experience and former world champion status add credibility to the matchup, both fighters are coming off losses, taking some of the shine off what otherwise could have been an intriguing lightweight clash.

From a matchmaking standpoint, however, the fight makes sense. Berinchyk offers Noakes a respected name without the risk that comes with facing one of the division’s younger contenders. A matchup against an unbeaten prospect such as Alan Chaves may have generated more interest, but it also would have posed a far more dangerous assignment for a fighter trying to rebuild after his first professional setback.

If the fight is finalized, it would serve as a solid keep-busy bout for Noakes while giving him the chance to put himself back in the lightweight conversation with a victory over a former world champion.

The 35-year-old contender knows most of the attention surrounding the fight has centered on Joshua’s future rather than the opponent standing across the ring from him. He warned that looking ahead to Fury would be a costly mistake.

“It’s not a good idea he make plans to fight Tyson Fury,” Prenga told Ring Magazine. “I think I’m going to break his plan.”

Joshua (30-4, 27 KOs) is coming off a sixth-round knockout of Jake Paul last December, a comeback victory after suffering a damaging fifth-round stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. A win over Prenga would keep him on course for one of the biggest fights in British boxing against Fury, who is also scheduled to return the day before against Mariusz Wach.

Prenga (20-1, 20 KOs) enters with an eye-catching record, having knocked out every opponent he has beaten. While those victories came against modest opposition compared to Joshua’s resume, the Albanian believes his punching power gives him everything he needs to produce a major upset.

Joshua is still a heavy favorite, but Prenga represents a different type of opponent than some of the former two-time heavyweight champion’s recent rebuilding assignments. Unlike Jermaine Franklin or Otto Wallin, Prenga is an aggressive puncher whose confidence comes from finishing every one of his victories inside the distance.

Overlooking an opponent with that kind of power could be an expensive mistake for Joshua. A knockout win for Prenga over one of boxing’s biggest names would instantly transform his career while destroying the plans for the blockbuster Fury-Joshua meeting.

Fury issued a direct challenge in the clip.

Fury: “I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me, ‘The Gypsy King’, NEXT!”

AJ: “I’m the boss. You work for me. I’m the landlord, remember that.”

🎟️ Buy #JoshuaPrenga NOW at https://t.co/FoiaUucafv | July 25 | Esports World Cup Fight Week pic.twitter.com/vXzU6Hbjbz

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) July 8, 2026

Neither quote is new, but their reappearance comes as anticipation continues to build for a fight that has eluded boxing fans for years.

Before any agreement can become reality, both men have business to take care of. Fury is scheduled to face veteran Mariusz Wach on July 24, while Joshua meets unbeaten Albanian puncher Kristian Prenga the following night.

DAZN’s decision to recycle the exchange suggests the broadcaster is already looking beyond those contests and toward one of the biggest fights available in the heavyweight division. The social media post also included a link directing fans to purchase the Joshua-Prenga pay-per-view.

Joshua is expected to defeat Prenga and move one step closer to finally sharing the ring with Fury, but the unbeaten Albanian has made it clear he has no intention of playing the role of a tune-up opponent. Prenga, who owns a 20-1 record with 20 knockouts, has already vowed to derail the blockbuster plans by stopping the former two-time heavyweight champion.