Anthony Joshua’s boxing return was overcome by an early scare to defeat Kristian Prenga in the second round of their heavyweight contest on Saturday, keeping alive his expected blockbuster clash with Tyson Fury
The former two-time world champion was stunned inside the opening 30 seconds after Prenga dropped him with a powerful uppercut. Joshua beat the referee’s count but looked unsteady, and moments later he was sent to the canvas again before surviving the remainder of the round.
After weathering the storm, Joshua responded emphatically in the second round. He unleashed a barrage of punches before landing a crushing right hook that knocked Prenga through the bottom rope, sealing a dramatic knockout victory.
The stunning comeback left ringside spectators, including heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, visibly shocked.
Joshua’s victory also preserved plans for a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury later this year. According to promoter Eddie Hearn, both fighters agreed to the bout on the condition they successfully came through their warm-up fights.
Speaking after the fight, Joshua expressed his excitement about the proposed Fury clash.
“I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat,” he said.
The emotional victory came in Joshua’s first fight since surviving a fatal car crash in Nigeria last December, which claimed the lives of his friends Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele. He dedicated the win to them after improving his professional record to 30 wins and four defeats, with 27 knockouts.
“It’s more than punch power,” Joshua said. “That was spirit. That was Latz and Sina. That was the family.
“He gave me a good test but this is what champions do, we rise. We get knocked down and stand up. That is life’s motto.”
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