Emotional Return in Jeddah
Anthony Joshua secured a dramatic victory against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, recovering from two first-round knockdowns to stop his opponent in the second round. This 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. Joshua, 36, dedicated the win to his late friends, stating, “It’s more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the families. It hurts to even talk about it. It has been tough.” He wore their names on his chest and the canvas also bore their names alongside the words ‘My Brother’s Keeper’.
The fight began with unexpected drama. Just 20 seconds into the opening round, an uppercut from Prenga sent Joshua to the canvas. Despite the early setback, Joshua smiled as he rose. Prenga, who entered the bout with 20 victories, all by knockout, sensed an opportunity. Later in the first round, a left uppercut again knocked Joshua down, leaving him unsteady as the second round commenced.
Promoter Eddie Hearn was observed giving instructions from ringside, while Oleksandr Usyk, a stablemate of Joshua, watched on with concern. Prenga, 35, surprisingly adopted a defensive stance in the second round, allowing Joshua to regain his composure. Joshua capitalised on this, drawing Prenga onto a jab before delivering a powerful right hand. More right hands followed, leading to Prenga collapsing and the referee halting the contest.
Path to a Super-Fight
This victory improves Joshua’s record to 30-4. The win sets the stage for a highly anticipated fight against fellow Briton Tyson Fury, a bout that has been in the making for over a decade. Contracts for the fight have reportedly been signed, though the specific venue and date remain unconfirmed. The contest between Joshua and Fury is understood to be agreed for November.
There had been speculation about Fury’s presence at the Jeddah fight, particularly after his own warm-up win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand. However, Fury did not attend, with his manager Spencer Brown stating that the ‘Gypsy King’ would be “there in spirit.” Joshua expressed his respect for Fury, saying, “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.”
The upcoming bout between Joshua and Fury is expected to stream on Netflix. While British fans are hoping for a homecoming event, Saudi organisers and broadcasters are reportedly favouring a venue in the United States to cater to American audiences. Hearn confirmed the contract signing, adding, “Tonight wasn’t about Tyson Fury. It was about the strength Anthony Joshua has shown just to be here. No-one knows what he’s been through over the last seven months. When he went down in the first round, I thought he’d come back too soon.”
Prenga’s loss to Joshua marks his second professional defeat. The fight was Joshua’s first against a recognised professional opponent since September 2024. His only fight since then was against a YouTuber-turned-boxer in December, 10 days before the fatal crash.
Source: bbc.com
As NewsGB.org's Sports News Writer, Theo Marsden reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He began on a regional sports desk in Yorkshire. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Hull and completed an NCTJ diploma. Theo lives in Hull, where he follows the European Tour and amateur rugby. “Sport moves fast; readers deserve it right the first time.”