Anthony Joshua staged a stunning comeback to stop previously unbeaten knockout specialist Kristian Prenga in the second round of their heavyweight contest in Jeddah, boosting hopes of a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury later this year.
The British-Nigerian heavyweight endured a nightmare start after being knocked down twice in the opening round, including a crushing uppercut that briefly threatened one of the biggest upsets in the heavyweight division. Prenga entered the fight boasting 20 knockout victories from 20 professional wins.
Joshua, however, regained his composure in impressive fashion, unleashing a barrage of powerful right hands in the second round that overwhelmed Prenga and forced the referee to stop the contest. The victory improved Joshua’s professional record to 30 wins from 34 fights.
The fight was Joshua’s first since the tragic car accident in December that claimed the lives of two close friends and members of his team, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele. A visibly emotional Joshua dedicated the victory to their memory.
“It’s more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the families,” Joshua said. “It hurts to even talk about it. It has been tough. It’s my brothers.”
Joshua’s win came a day after Tyson Fury defeated Polish veteran Mariusz Wach by stoppage in a non-televised bout in Thailand. Although Fury ruled out travelling to Saudi Arabia for a face-off, victories for both heavyweights have kept plans for their long-anticipated clash firmly on track.
Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that contracts for the fight have already been signed, with only the venue yet to be confirmed. While Wembley Stadium remains an option, Hearn said organisers are leaning toward staging the blockbuster in the United States.
Looking ahead to the potential showdown, Joshua expressed confidence while paying tribute to Fury’s achievements.
