Anthony Joshua secured a dramatic victory against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, recovering from two knockdowns in the first round to stop his opponent in the second. This comeback fight marked Joshua’s return to the ring following a car crash in Nigeria in December that resulted in the deaths of his friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
The British heavyweight was floored by an uppercut from Prenga just 20 seconds into the opening round and again later in the same round. Despite these early setbacks, Joshua rallied in the second round, delivering a series of right hands that sent Prenga to the canvas, prompting the referee to end the contest.
A challenging return to the ring
Joshua entered the fight carrying the names of his late friends on his chest and walked to the ring with his team, a silent acknowledgment of the personal difficulties he has faced. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, expressed concerns during the first round, admitting he feared Joshua might have returned to boxing too soon given the circumstances.
Prenga, who had a record of 20 knockouts from 20 victories, presented a significant challenge. Joshua’s stablemate, Oleksandr Usyk, watched on with visible concern as the early knockdowns unfolded. Prenga’s second career loss came after a strong start against the British fighter.
Joshua’s last professional fight against a recognised opponent was against Daniel Dubois. His only other fight since had been against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December, shortly before the fatal crash.
Setting the stage for a major showdown
Following his victory, Joshua spoke about the prospect of facing Tyson Fury, stating, “I respect everything he has done and everything that he has achieved, but as a fighting person, we’re here now. I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat.” Contracts for a fight between Joshua and Fury have been signed, though the venue and date remain unconfirmed.
There was speculation that Fury might attend the fight in Jeddah, but he was not present. Fury had secured his own warm-up victory against Mariusz Wach in Thailand the day before. The long-awaited bout between Joshua and Fury is understood to have been agreed for November.
While British fans hope for a homecoming event in the UK, reports suggest that Saudi organisers and broadcasters are considering a venue in the United States to appeal to American audiences. Hearn confirmed that the contract for the Fury fight is complete, emphasising the resilience Joshua showed to compete.
Joshua acknowledged Prenga’s performance, saying, “I also want to give a massive thank you to Kristian Prenga and his team for putting on a good fight. It means a lot to them, and it means a lot to me.” He added that Prenga is a “serious fighter, strong, durable, and he come and gave me a good test.”
Joshua, 36, reflected on the emotional toll of the past months, mentioning his friends and stating, “It hurts to even talk about it. It has been tough.”
The victory marks Joshua’s 27th knockout of his career, achieved on a night that tested his resolve.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Harry Loxley is a Senior Football Correspondent at NewsGB.org. He spent his early career reporting East Midlands football. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Derby and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Derby, he watches non-league and runs a fan podcast. “Good football writing follows the people, not just the points.”