Accra: Anthony Joshua faced two unexpected knockdowns, with the first occurring just 20 seconds into the match, before he recovered to secure a dramatic victory over Kristian Prenga in the second round of his comeback fight in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
According to Ghana Web, the British heavyweight was stepping into the ring for the first time since a tragic car crash in December in Nigeria, which resulted in the loss of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele. Despite the emotional and physical toll, Joshua was rocked early by a powerful uppercut from underdog Prenga in the opening round, hitting the canvas twice and appearing on the brink of a significant upset that could have jeopardized his long-anticipated fight with Tyson Fury.
However, showcasing resilience and determination, Joshua managed to turn the fight around. In the second round, he unleashed a decisive right hand that sent Albanian Prenga crashing to the mat, prompting the referee to stop the contest. "It's more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the families. It hurts to even talk about it. It has been tough," Joshua, 36, remarked emotionally, stepping away from the microphone as he struggled to speak of his late friends.
The fight also stirred speculation about Fury, who had previously claimed he would not attend. True to his word, Fury was absent from the event, despite having secured his own warm-up victory over Mariusz Wach in Thailand just 24 hours earlier. Regarding the potential bout with Fury, Joshua commented, "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."
While contracts for the Joshua-Fury fight have been signed, details such as the venue and date remain unconfirmed. Nonetheless, Joshua's victory in Jeddah stands as a testament to his perseverance through one of the most challenging periods of his life.