Joshua survives early knockdowns to secure Fury bout
Anthony Joshua’s second-round knockout of Kristian Prenga marks his return to the ring following a fatal car crash in Nigeria, with promoter Eddie Hearn confirming the ‘Battle of Britain’ is now contractually bound for later this year.
Anthony Joshua has secured a second-round knockout victory over Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, overcoming two early knockdowns to solidify the contractual agreement for a heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury later this year. The result extends Joshua’s professional record to 30 wins and four defeats, marking his first test against a recognised professional opponent since his loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
The bout began with significant turbulence for the British heavyweight, who was sent crashing to the canvas by a right uppercut within the first 20 seconds. Joshua was knocked down again later in the opening round by a left uppercut, leaving him unsteady at the start of the second round. Despite appearing to be in career-threatening trouble, Joshua rallied to deliver a barrage of heavy blows that sent Prenga tumbling through the ropes, ensuring the Albanian fighter could not beat the count.
This victory serves as Joshua’s professional comeback following a car crash in Nigeria in December that claimed the lives of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele. The fatal incident occurred ten days after Joshua’s previous bout against Jake Paul. During the post-fight interview, Joshua wore camouflage gear featuring the names of his late companions on his chest and dedicated the win to their memory, describing the victory as driven by spirit rather than just power.
Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that the contract for the upcoming bout with Fury is signed, noting Joshua’s resilience in continuing the fight after the early setbacks. Hearn highlighted the strength required for Joshua to recover from the knockdowns, stating that the night was about the champion’s ability to dig deep when his career appeared to be on the line. The upcoming clash is referred to as the ‘Battle of Britain’, with Tyson Fury recently securing a seventh-round TKO victory over Mariusz Wach in Thailand.
Joshua paid tribute to Prenga, describing the 35-year-old as a serious fighter with a bright future, and suggested that Hearn might sign him for future promotions. While Joshua joked about Fury’s absence by quoting Mike Tyson’s famous pre-fight rhetoric, he expressed sincere respect for the “Gypsy King’s” achievements. The exact date for the showdown remains unspecified, though the contractual agreement is now in place.
