Joshua knocked down twice as dramatic win sets up Fury fight
Anthony Joshua survived two first-round knockdowns to stop underdog Kristian Prenga in the second round of his comeback fight in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in one of the most dramatic bouts of his career. It marked his first fight since surviving a car crash in Nigeria in December that killed his close friends Sina Ghami and Latif "Latz" Ayodele, and the emotional victory now paves the way for a long-awaited showdown with fellow Briton Tyson Fury, for which contracts have already been signed.
Joshua, 36, was floored just 20 seconds into the fight by a right uppercut from Albanian fighter Prenga, who arrived unbeaten with 20 knockouts from 20 wins, and was knocked down again later in the round, putting his career in serious jeopardy. He recovered in the second round, landing a decisive right hand that sent Prenga crashing to the canvas and prompted the referee to stop the contest, extending Joshua's record to 30 wins and four defeats. Fury, who had won his own warm-up bout in Thailand a day earlier, did not attend as speculated, though a venue and date for the eventual title fight are yet to be confirmed.
- Joshua overcame two knockdowns to stop Prenga in round two
- First fight since friends died in December car crash
- Win sets up signed but unscheduled Tyson Fury bout
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Anthony Joshua is a professional boxer and former heavyweight champion who has been a major figure in British boxing for over a decade. Last December, he survived a serious car crash in Nigeria that killed two close friends, making this his first fight since the tragedy.
Tyson Fury is another leading British heavyweight boxer and the current world heavyweight champion. Joshua and Fury have long been expected to face each other, with contracts already agreed, making it one of the most anticipated matchups in professional boxing.
This comeback victory is significant because it demonstrates Joshua remains capable of competing at the highest level despite his personal tragedy and time away from the sport. The fight now sets up the long-awaited showdown with Fury, which will be for world heavyweight titles.