Joshua Beats Prenga by KO After Knockdowns
Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua survived two early knockdowns before securing a dramatic second-round knockout victory over Albania’s Kristian Prenga at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia. The high-stakes non-title heavyweight bout marked Joshua’s return to the ring following a tragic December car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends and left him injured. Within twenty seconds of the opening bell, Prenga stunned the crowd by flooring Joshua with a sharp right uppercut. Although Joshua regained his footing, Prenga pressed the attack and sent him down a second time late in the opening frame, leaving the British fighter on shaky legs.
Despite the chaotic start, Joshua regrouped in the second round behind a steady jab and landed heavy combinations to shift momentum completely. A brutal right-hook sequence sent Prenga crashing through the bottom ropes at 2:43 of the round, prompting the referee to halt the contest. According to a fight report published by ESPN, the victory saved a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury planned for later this year. Joshua expressed gratitude after the fight, stating that champions rise whenever they are knocked down.
The thrilling comeback improves Joshua’s record to thirty wins and four losses, with twenty-seven knockouts. His successful return ensures that the agreed mega-fight against Tyson Fury remains intact after Fury won his own warm-up bout in Thailand earlier in the weekend. The sensational turnaround in Jeddah provides Joshua with crucial momentum as he prepares for the biggest all-British matchup in heavyweight boxing history.
