Anthony Joshua survived two first-round knockdowns before producing a dramatic second-round knockout victory over Kristian Prenga in his comeback fight in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, keeping alive his long-awaited blockbuster showdown with Tyson Fury.
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The British heavyweight was returning to the ring for the first time since surviving a December car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele.
Joshua’s comeback almost turned into a stunning upset within seconds. Just 20 seconds into the opening round, Prenga landed a heavy uppercut that sent the former two-time heavyweight champion to the canvas.
Joshua got back to his feet, but Prenga continued to press and dropped him again later in the round with another uppercut, leaving the Briton unsteady and seemingly on the brink of one of the biggest shocks in heavyweight boxing.
Prenga, a 35-year-old Albanian who came into the fight with 20 knockouts from 20 wins, appeared close to securing a career-defining victory. Promoter Eddie Hearn was seen shouting instructions from ringside, while Joshua’s stablemate Oleksandr Usyk watched with concern.
However, Joshua recovered in the second round, steadied himself behind his jab and began to draw Prenga forward. He then unleashed a series of powerful right hands, with the final shot sending Prenga crashing down against the ropes and forcing the referee to stop the contest.
The victory gave Joshua the 27th stoppage of his professional career and marked his first test against a recognised professional opponent since his defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. His only fight since then had reportedly come against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December, days before the fatal crash that left him injured and grieving.
An emotional Joshua dedicated the win to his late friends, whose names were displayed on his chest and on the ring canvas alongside the words “My Brother’s Keeper.”
Kristian Prenga Vs Anthony Joshua was 2 of the most exciting rounds of boxing I’ve seen in 2026 #Boxing #PrengaJoshua #JoshuaPrenga pic.twitter.com/n47zySj4qw
— Grizz (@Grizzdasmoker) July 25, 2026
“It’s more than punch power. That was spirit,” Joshua said, referring to Latz, Sina and their families. He later became emotional and stepped away from the microphone, saying he did not want to talk further about the loss.
Joshua admitted Prenga had given him a real test, but said surviving difficult moments was part of being a champion.
“I am still here to talk to you now,” he said when asked how badly he was hurt. “He is a strong guy. I am a serious fighter; I know my way around the ring. This is what champions do. We keep going. That’s life.”
The fight also heightened anticipation for Joshua’s proposed clash with Tyson Fury. There had been speculation that Fury might appear in Jeddah after his own warm-up win over Mariusz Wach in Thailand, but the former world champion did not attend.
A Fury lookalike briefly caused confusion among reporters outside the venue, while Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, said the “Gypsy King” would be there “in spirit.”
Speaking about the possibility of facing Fury, Joshua said he respected everything Fury had achieved but added that both fighters were now at the point where the fight could finally happen.
Contracts for the long-awaited all-British heavyweight clash have reportedly been signed, although the date and venue have not yet been announced. The bout is understood to be targeted for November, with expectations that it could stream on Netflix.
British fans are hoping for a homecoming event, but Saudi organisers and broadcasters are said to favour a venue in the United States to appeal to American audiences.
Hearn confirmed that the contracts had been signed but stressed that the night was about Joshua’s courage and emotional recovery rather than Fury.
“We’ve signed the contract. Everything is done,” Hearn said. “But tonight wasn’t about Tyson Fury. It was about the strength Anthony Joshua has shown just to be here.”
He added that when Joshua went down in the first round, he feared the former champion may have returned too soon.
“No one knows what he’s been through over the last seven months,” Hearn said.
Although Joshua won, the manner of the victory showed both vulnerability and resilience. It was not the dominant, free-flowing Joshua of old, but a fighter who survived crisis, grief and danger before finding a way to win.
For Prenga, it was only the second defeat of his career. For Joshua, it was an emotional victory forged through adversity and a crucial step toward the Fury fight that boxing fans have waited more than a decade to see.
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