Anthony Joshua was knocked down by Kristian Prenga in the first round of their fight in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 25/7/2026. Photo: Reuters

Anthony Joshua overcame an early scare to defeat Kristian Prenga by technical knockout in the second round, advancing closer to a highly anticipated fight with Tyson Fury. The bout, held in Jeddah on 25/7, saw Joshua recover from two early knockdowns, demonstrating resilience in his return to the ring.

Prenga, while not a top-tier star like Joshua, is a formidable fighter. Before this match, he had one loss and 20 wins, all by knockout, including a streak of 16 victories since 2017. In Jeddah, Prenga presented a difficult opening for Joshua, nearly causing an upset that could have derailed plans for the Fury fight.

Prenga began with an impressive display, knocking Joshua down in under 20 seconds with a powerful uppercut. Within the first three minutes, the Albanian fighter sent Joshua to the canvas two times, marking what was arguably the worst round of Joshua’s professional career.

However, the fight's momentum quickly shifted in the second round. After the break, Joshua returned with a more aggressive approach, landing powerful right hands before ending the match with a combination of punches at the 2 minutes 43 seconds mark. Prenga collapsed, forcing the referee to stop the fight.

Anthony Joshua knocks down Kristian Prenga to win by knockout in the second round. Photo: AP

This marked Joshua's first fight since a december car accident that tragically killed two close team members: strength and conditioning coach Latif "Latz" Ayodele and personal trainer Sina Ghami.

Joshua spent months overcoming the shock to return to the boxing ring. The 35-year-old boxer admitted there were times when getting out of bed each morning felt difficult. He spent about two months solely on stationary cycling, gradually regaining his physical condition with balance exercises before resuming high-intensity training.

Joshua dedicated his comeback fight as a tribute to his two deceased friends. He wore camouflage-patterned shorts emblazoned with the names Ghami and Ayodele. He also donned a military-style jacket adorned with medals symbolizing the four IBF, IBO, WBA, and WBO championship belts he once held, along with two bands bearing Ghami and Ayodele’s names.

Anthony Joshua warming up before the fight. Photo: Reuters

Following the match, Joshua emotionally dedicated his victory to the memory of his late friends. "This isn't just about the power of the punches. It's the spirit of Latz, Sina, and their families. Every time I mention it, it still hurts deeply. They were my brothers," the British fighter expressed.

Joshua later burst into tears during an on-ring interview when asked how he navigated the difficult period. "They were my brothers. I don't want to talk about it anymore," he choked up.

In february, Joshua tattooed Ghami and Ayodele's names on his arm to honor his two close friends. The British boxer also pledged to continue providing financial support to the families of Ghami and Ayodele, and to pursue the goals they had all set together.

Just 24 hours before Joshua's bout, Tyson Fury also secured a knockout victory over Mariusz Wach in Thailand. With both Fury and Joshua winning, the most anticipated heavyweight clash in British boxing history is nearing reality. According to British media, both fighters have signed a contract, though the venue has not yet been announced.

Anthony Joshua celebrates his knockout victory. Photo: Reuters

Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, want the fight to take place on English soil, arguing that it is "the biggest boxing match in British history" and deserves to be held in front of a home crowd. Conversely, organizer Turki Alalshikh and broadcast partner Netflix are reportedly prioritizing bringing the event to Madison Square Garden in New York, US. The parties are expected to continue negotiations in the coming days to finalize the venue.

However, experts remain cautious, as heavyweight boxing has seen many major fights fall apart at the last minute. Most recently, plans for Joshua to meet Deontay Wilder in late 2023 were canceled after the American fighter unexpectedly lost to Joseph Parker.

Fury once questioned Joshua's courage to step into the ring against him. Joshua retorted after his victory: "I will take away his fighting will. I am the most ferocious and fiery champion there ever was."

Fury has held multiple world heavyweight championship belts, including unifying the four prestigious WBA, IBF, IBO, WBO titles from 2015 to 2016, holding The Ring belt two times from 2015 to 2022, and the WBC belt from 2020 to 2024. At the regional level, the 2,06 meters tall fighter was a two-time British champion, and won European, Commonwealth, and many other heavyweight titles.

In his professional career, Fury has 36 wins, one draw, and two losses, both against Oleksandr Usyk. Before turning professional, he had an outstanding amateur record, winning a bronze medal at the 2006 World Youth Championships, a gold medal at the 2007 EU Youth Championships, a silver medal at the 2007 European Youth Championships, and the ABA Super Heavyweight Championship in 2008.

Fury is among the highest-earning athletes on the planet, ranked third on Sportico and Forbes' list in 2025, with estimated earnings of 146-147 million USD. According to BoxRec, Fury is in the top 10 active heavyweight boxers, while The Ring ranks him as the number two fighter in the world, trailing only champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua is also a top British heavyweight boxer, who rose to prominence with a technical knockout victory over "Dr. Steelhammer" Wladimir Klitschko in 2017. However, in recent years, Joshua's career has declined, notably losing two consecutive matches to Ukrainian fighter Oleksandr Usyk and forfeiting his titles. In his professional career, he has 4 losses and 30 wins, 27 of which were by knockout.

Hong Duy (according to Daily Mail)