Anthony Joshua stopped Kristian Prenga in the second round of their heavyweight bout in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, recovering from two first-round knockdowns to secure his first win since a fatal road accident in Nigeria in December 2025 claimed the lives of two members of his team.
The 36-year-old British-Nigerian was dropped within the opening 20 seconds by an uppercut from the Albanian Prenga, and floored a second time before the end of round one. He came back in round two, working behind his jab before landing a series of hooks that forced the referee to step in and end the contest.
Joshua fought back tears afterward as he dedicated the win to his late friends and colleagues, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, both killed in the December crash. “That was more than punch power. It was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina,” he said. “It hurts me talking about it.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed contracts are signed for a Joshua-Tyson Fury fight later this year, with Wembley Stadium the frontrunner to host. No date or venue has been officially announced. Hearn called the win one of the most significant of Joshua’s career, citing the emotional weight he carried into camp.
