Former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua made a dramatic comeback. He recovered from two knockdowns to knock out Kristian Prenga in the second round. This non-title heavyweight fight took place in Saudi Arabia.
The fight in Jeddah was a crucial step for Joshua. It was meant to set up a long-awaited match against fellow British boxer Tyson Fury. This event also marked Joshua's return to the ring after a severe car crash in Nigeria in December. He lost two close friends and was injured in that accident.
A Shocking First Round
Joshua was floored by an uppercut just 30 seconds into the fight. He managed to get up but looked very shaken. Prenga then knocked him down a second time. Again, Joshua rose before the count ended and survived the first round.
We're a new kind of news feed.
Regular news is designed to drain you. We're a non-profit built to restore you. Every story we publish is scored for impact, progress, and hope.
Start Your News DetoxMany expected a quick end to the fight, but not in Prenga's favor.
In the second round, Joshua unleashed a series of punches. He finished Prenga with a right hook, sending the Albanian through the ropes. This turnaround surprised many, including heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who watched from ringside.
Looking Ahead to Fury
This comeback win keeps alive the possibility of an all-British fight between Joshua and Fury. Joshua's manager, Eddie Hearn, stated that both fighters have signed a contract to meet later this year. This is conditional on them winning their warm-up bouts.
"I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat," Joshua told the crowd after his win, speaking about the potential fight with Fury.
Fury also did his part. He came out of retirement this year. On Friday, he defeated 46-year-old Polish boxer Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, forcing him to retire in round seven.
Joshua nearly jeopardized his part of the contract. However, he showed his champion's fighting spirit. Prenga came into the match with a 20-1 record, all by knockout, and proved to be a powerful opponent.
A Win for His Friends
This was Joshua's first fight since the car crash that killed his friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele. He acknowledged them after improving his record to 30-4 (27 KOs).
"It’s more than punch power," Joshua said about his knockout punch. "That was spirit. That was Latz and Sina. That was the family. You know what I mean? That hurts even talking about it."
He added, "He [Prenga] 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 poses for a picture with his the family of his friends, Latz and Sina, who died in a tragic car accident [Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters]
