Anthony Joshua returned to the ring in Jeddah on Saturday and produced one of the most dramatic performances of his career, recovering from two knockdowns to knock out Kristian Prenga inside two rounds at the Jeddah Superdome.
It was Joshua’s first fight since a car crash in Nigeria last December, an accident that left him injured and cost the lives of two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. The win moved his record to 30 wins and four defeats, with 27 of those victories coming by stoppage.
How the Fight Unfolded
Prenga came in with a formidable record — 20 wins from 21 bouts, all 20 of them inside the distance — and he wasted no time proving why. Within the opening 30 seconds, he dropped Joshua with an uppercut that sent the former champion crashing to the canvas. Joshua beat the count but was visibly shaken.
Prenga found the mark again before the end of the first round, flooring Joshua a second time. Joshua rose once more and survived to hear the bell. Few in the arena expected what came next.
In the second round, Joshua turned the fight completely on its head. He unleashed a sustained attack and finished Prenga with a right hook that sent the Albanian fighter through the bottom ropes. It was Joshua’s turn to inflict a knockdown — and this one ended matters.
Joshua Dedicates Win to Friends Lost in Car Crash
After the final bell, Joshua was emotional. Speaking to the crowd, he dedicated the knockout to his friends who died in December, saying the power behind his finishing punch came from something deeper than physical strength — it was, in his words, a tribute to Latif and Sina and the wider support around him. He added that Prenga gave him a serious examination, but that champions respond by getting back up, drawing a direct parallel between the fight and the challenges life throws at anyone.
He also told the crowd that fans could look forward to something special, a clear reference to the anticipated all-British showdown with Tyson Fury.
Fury Watching From Thailand, Joshua Deal Already Signed
Former world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk was ringside and was caught on camera reacting with visible surprise at the turnaround. Fury, meanwhile, had been following events from Thailand, where he came out of retirement on Friday to stop 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in round seven in Pattaya. Prior to Joshua’s fight, Fury had publicly dismissed Prenga as a weak test for Joshua, suggesting the Albanian was a poor-quality opponent.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has stated that both fighters have already signed a contract to meet later this year, provided each came through their respective warmup bouts this weekend. Both did. The Joshua-Fury fight — a contest British boxing fans have waited years to see — now appears set to go ahead.
Sheeraz Retains WBO Title on the Same Card
On the undercard of the DAZN pay-per-view event, Hamzah Sheeraz successfully defended his WBO super-middleweight title against Simon Zachenhuber. Sheeraz won by majority decision, with two judges scoring it 115-113 and 116-112 in his favour, while the third had it level at 114-114.
For more background on what was at stake heading into Saturday night, see our earlier previews: Anthony Joshua Takes on Kristian Prenga in Jeddah With Fury Fight in Sight and Anthony Joshua Fights in Jeddah Tonight With Tyson Fury Bout on the Line.
