Anthony Joshua made a dramatic return to the ring on Sunday, overcoming two first-round knockdowns before stopping Albania’s Kristian Prenga in the second round, setting the stage for a long-awaited showdown with fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury.
The bout, held at the Jeddah Superdome, marked Joshua’s first fight since a tragic car accident in Nigeria last December that claimed the lives of two of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
Speaking after the victory, the former two-time heavyweight champion became emotional as he reflected on the loss of his friends, dedicating his comeback performance to their memory.
Joshua said the determination that carried him through the fight came from his spirit and the inspiration of those he had lost.
The victory followed his controversial win over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December, while his last major title fight ended in a fifth-round knockout defeat to IBF champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.
Despite securing the win, Joshua faced early trouble after Prenga floored him with a right uppercut just 20 seconds into the contest. The Albanian fighter later sent him to the canvas for a second time before the opening round ended.
Joshua responded strongly in the second round, using his jab to push Prenga onto the back foot before landing a series of powerful punches.
A devastating combination, finished with a heavy right hand, sent Prenga crashing through the ropes, prompting the referee to stop the fight at 2 minutes and 43 seconds of the second round.
The victory improved Joshua’s professional record to 30 wins and four defeats, with 27 of his victories coming by knockout.
Attention has now turned to a proposed “Battle of Britain” clash with Tyson Fury, which is expected to take place in November at a venue yet to be announced.
Fury boosted expectations for the blockbuster fight after defeating Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday, earning his second consecutive victory since returning from a lengthy layoff.
Although Fury was not present in Jeddah, Joshua issued a confident message after the fight, expressing his determination to finally face his longtime rival while also acknowledging Fury’s achievements in the sport.
Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that the agreement for the highly anticipated contest has already been signed, stating that only the official staging of the event remains.
Joshua, meanwhile, insisted that he remains determined to continue his career at the highest level and believes nothing will stand in the way of his ambitions.
