Anthony Joshua survived a shocking opening round to stop Kristian Prenga in the second session of an emotional comeback bout in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, keeping hopes of a future meeting with Tyson Fury alive.
The 36 year old British heavyweight entered under personal strain. It was his first appearance since the December road accident in Nigeria that killed close friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Their names were displayed on his clothing and on the ring canvas beside the message “My Brother’s Keeper”.
Joshua’s return began disastrously. Only 20 seconds had passed when Prenga connected with a right uppercut that dropped the former world champion. Joshua rose with a smile, but the danger was far from over.
Prenga, who had recorded 20 stoppages in his 20 career victories, pressed forward confidently. Later in the first round, another uppercut sent Joshua down for a second time. With the crowd stunned and Fury’s proposed contest at risk, Joshua appeared close to a major upset.
He remained unsettled when the second round started, yet Prenga unexpectedly gave him space instead of maintaining pressure. That decision allowed Joshua to recover, regain his timing and use his experience.
The ending came quickly. Joshua tempted Prenga forward behind a jab before firing a heavy right hand. He followed with several more punches as the Albanian fell, prompting the referee to stop the action.
Afterwards, Joshua became emotional while speaking about Ghami, Ayodele and their families. He explained that the performance came from inner strength rather than punching force, before stepping away from the microphone as he struggled to continue.
The result marked Prenga’s second defeat and gave Joshua success in his first recognised professional test since Daniel Dubois stopped him in September 2024. Joshua’s only appearance since then had been against Jake Paul in December, 10 days before the fatal accident.
Tyson Fury did not attend, despite speculation that he could appear after defeating Mariusz Wach in Thailand less than a day earlier. Joshua confirmed his respect for Fury’s achievements and said supporters could expect an occasion if they meet.
Contracts for the long discussed contest have reportedly been completed, although its location and date remain unconfirmed.
Joshua did not deliver the smooth performance many expected, but he showed determination and courage when the situation looked desperate. On a personal evening, his recovery turned possible disaster into one of the most remarkable wins of his career.
