Joshua comes back twice to knock out Prenga and set up Fury showdown
Anthony Joshua recovered from two knockdowns to defeat Kristian Prenga by knockout in the second round of a heavyweight bout in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The victory marks Joshua's return to boxing following a December car crash in Nigeria and sets up a potential fight against Tyson Fury later this year.
Former two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua staged a dramatic comeback in Jeddah on Saturday, overcoming two early knockdowns to defeat Albania's Kristian Prenga by knockout in the second round. The non-title bout served as a crucial stepping stone toward a long-anticipated all-British showdown with Tyson Fury, contingent on both fighters winning their respective warm-up matches.
Joshua's path back to the ring has been marked by adversity. The British boxer had not competed since a severe car accident in Nigeria in December, an incident that claimed the lives of two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, and left Joshua himself injured. Against Prenga, who entered the fight with an impressive 20-1 record and 20 knockouts, Joshua faced an immediate test of his readiness.
The opening round proved treacherous. Prenga floored Joshua with an uppercut within 30 seconds, forcing the former champion to beat the count despite appearing visibly shaken. Prenga struck again moments later, sending Joshua down a second time, yet Joshua rose before the referee's count concluded and survived to the bell.
The momentum shifted decisively in the second round. Joshua unleashed a sustained offensive barrage, culminating in a powerful right hook that sent Prenga through the bottom rope and ended the contest. The turnaround was so unexpected that heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, watching from ringside, visibly registered shock at the outcome.
According to Joshua's manager Eddie Hearn, both Joshua and Fury have signed a contract to meet later in the year, provided each fighter successfully completed their scheduled warm-up bouts. Fury fulfilled his obligation on Friday in Pattaya, Thailand, forcing 46-year-old Polish opponent Mariusz Wach to retire in the seventh round. Joshua's victory improved his professional record to 30-4 with 27 knockouts and kept the Fury matchup on track. Following his win, Joshua dedicated his performance to his deceased friends, emphasizing that his knockout reflected not merely physical power but the resilience and spirit that define championship boxing.
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