Former two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua produced a remarkable comeback on Saturday night, recovering from two early knockdowns to stop Albania’s Kristian Prenga in the second round of a dramatic non-title bout in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The victory keeps alive plans for a highly anticipated all-British heavyweight showdown between Joshua and Tyson Fury later this year.
Joshua, returning to the ring for the first time since surviving a devastating car crash in Nigeria in December that claimed the lives of two of his close friends and left him injured, endured a nightmare start to the contest.
Prenga stunned the British fighter with a powerful uppercut less than 30 seconds into the opening round, sending Joshua to the canvas. Although he beat the referee’s count, Joshua appeared visibly shaken before being knocked down again later in the round.
The former champion managed to survive until the bell, setting the stage for an unexpected turnaround.
In the second round, Joshua responded with a relentless attack, overwhelming Prenga before delivering a crushing right hook that sent the Albanian through the bottom rope, prompting the referee to end the contest.
The dramatic reversal drew a stunned reaction from undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who watched the fight from ringside.
The victory strengthens prospects for Joshua’s long-discussed clash with fellow Briton Tyson Fury. Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has previously stated that both fighters have signed an agreement to meet later this year, provided they successfully navigated their respective tune-up bouts.
Speaking after the fight, Joshua expressed optimism about the possibility of facing Fury.
“I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat,” he said.
Reflecting on his comeback victory, Joshua dedicated the performance to his late friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, whose deaths in the December crash continue to weigh heavily on him.
“It’s more than punch power,” Joshua said. “That was spirit. That was Latz and Sina. That was the family. You know what I mean? That hurts even talking about it.”
He also praised Prenga for pushing him to his limits.
“He gave me a good test, but this is what champions do: we rise. We get knocked down and stand up. That is life; that is life’s motto,” Joshua added.
The win improved Joshua’s professional record to 30 victories and four defeats, with 27 of those wins coming by knockout, while preserving momentum toward one of boxing’s most anticipated heavyweight contests.
