Anthony Joshua survived two first-round knockdowns to stop Kristian Prenga in the second round of a breathtaking heavyweight comeback at the Jeddah Superdome.
Joshua’s comeback could scarcely have started any worse.
The former two-time heavyweight champion walked to the ring wearing badges on his chest commemorating his world title triumphs and paying tribute to his fallen friends, Latz and Sina. Within moments, he was flat on his back after Prenga landed virtually the first meaningful punch of the fight.
Joshua rose from the canvas, but his legs were unsteady as Prenga sensed the upset. The Albanian dropped him again before the end of the opening round, leaving Joshua fortunate to hear the bell after a disastrous opening three minutes.
Joshua Turned the Tide
The one-minute interval changed everything.
Joshua returned with renewed composure and immediately began breaking Prenga down. Every clean shot appeared to hurt the Albanian as the momentum swung dramatically in the Briton’s favor.
Sensing his moment, Joshua unloaded with a crushing right hand that left Prenga unable to recover, forcing a dramatic second-round stoppage and completing one of the most remarkable reversals of fortune seen in a heavyweight ring.
Fury Showdown Remains on Course
The victory kept Joshua’s comeback firmly on track and moved him a step closer to the long-awaited clash with Tyson Fury.
Fury, however, failed to attend the event despite previously promising he would be ringside to watch his long-time rival’s return.
Joshua did what he had to do after staring defeat in the face. Whether surviving two knockdowns against Prenga represents ideal preparation for Fury is another question entirely.
For complete results from every fight on the card, visit the Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga Live Results page.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
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