By Ugo Kevwe
National News – Two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua produced a remarkable comeback on Sunday, surviving two first-round knockdowns before stopping Albania’s Kristian Prenga in the second round to set up a long-awaited showdown with fellow Briton Tyson Fury.
The bout, held at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia, marked Joshua’s first appearance since a tragic car accident in Nigeria in December claimed the lives of two of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
An emotional Joshua dedicated the victory to his late friends after the fight.
“That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina. That was family,” he said while fighting back tears during his post-fight interview.
The 36-year-old had entered the contest seeking a successful return to the ring after months away from boxing.
However, Prenga made a sensational start, flooring Joshua with a right uppercut just 20 seconds into the opening round. The Albanian heavyweight, known for his knockout power, sent Joshua to the canvas again later in the round after another fierce attack.
Despite the shaky start, Joshua regained his composure in the second round. Using his jab effectively, he forced Prenga onto the back foot before unleashing a series of powerful punches. A crushing right hand completed the assault, sending Prenga crashing through the ropes and prompting the referee to stop the contest at 2:43 of the second round.
The victory improved Joshua’s professional record to 30 wins and four defeats, with 27 of those victories coming by knockout.
The fight was Joshua’s first since his controversial victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December. His last competitive outing before then had been a fifth-round knockout loss to IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.
The win now appears to have cleared the path for a blockbuster “Battle of Britain” against Tyson Fury, with the highly anticipated clash expected to take place in November.
Fury also strengthened the prospects of the mega-fight after defeating Poland’s Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, on Friday. The former heavyweight champion dominated the contest before Wach’s corner stopped the fight in the seventh round.
Although Fury was not present in Jeddah, Joshua sent a strong message to his long-time rival.
“I respect everything he has done and everything he has achieved. But as a fighting person and someone who has been calling for this fight for a long time, we’re here now,” Joshua said.
His promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirmed that contractual arrangements for the Fury fight had already been completed.
“Everything’s done,” Hearn said. “But tonight is all about the strength that Joshua showed to even be here and the strength he displayed during the fight.”
Joshua expressed confidence that greater achievements still lie ahead.
“I can’t be stopped. I’m not going to be stopped. I’m not going to be denied,” he declared.
