Anthony Joshua was knocked down twice in the opening round before mounting a dramatic comeback to stop Kristian Prenga in the second round on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This victory marked Joshua's return to the ring following a difficult period after a December car crash that resulted in the deaths of close friends.
The first knockdown occurred just 20 seconds into the bout, with Joshua reportedly rocked by a powerful uppercut. He was sent to the canvas again later in the first round, appearing on the verge of a significant upset. However, Joshua rallied in the second round, delivering a decisive right hand that ended the contest and forced the referee to stop the fight.
Speculation had circulated regarding a potential appearance by fellow British boxer Tyson Fury, who had previously stated he would not attend the event. Fury was not present, having fought his own warm-up bout in Thailand the previous day.
Following his victory, Joshua addressed the prospect of a fight with Fury. "I am the meanest, most vicious champion. Nobody can stop me. He is no Oleksandr [Usyk]," Joshua stated. He added, "All jokes aside, there is two sides. One is the fighter and the other is respect. I respect everything he has done and everything that he has achieved, but as a fighting person, we're here now. I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat."
Contracts for a potential fight between Joshua and Fury have been signed, though the venue and date remain unconfirmed. The bout between the two has been anticipated for over a decade.
This chaotic night in Jeddah ultimately belonged to Joshua, with his victory forged through resilience during a challenging period in his life.