Anthony Joshua produced a dramatic comeback to stop Kristian Prenga in the second round of their heavyweight bout in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The former world champion was fighting for the first time since surviving a car crash in Nigeria in December that claimed the lives of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele.
Joshua’s return nearly ended in disaster. Just 20 seconds into the opening round, Prenga floored him with a powerful uppercut. The British heavyweight was knocked down again later in the round and looked in serious trouble.
However, Joshua showed remarkable resilience. After surviving the opening round, he found his rhythm in the second and landed a devastating right hand that dropped Prenga. A follow-up barrage forced the referee to stop the contest.
Speaking after the victory, an emotional Joshua dedicated the win to his late friends.
He also addressed the possibility of facing fellow Briton Tyson Fury, saying he respected Fury’s achievements. Also expressing hope that fans would enjoy the long-awaited showdown.
Although contracts have reportedly been signed, the date and venue for the fight remain undecided.
The victory marked Joshua’s successful return to professional boxing after a difficult period personally and professionally. It was also Prenga’s second defeat as a professional.
