Anthony Joshua was knocked down twice in the opening round before recovering to stop Kristian Prenga in the second in Jeddah, setting up a much-hyped fight with Tyson Fury in November.
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Key facts
- Anthony Joshua was knocked down twice in the first round against Kristian Prenga.
- Joshua recovered to stop Prenga in the second round.
- The bout took place in the early hours of Sunday morning in Jeddah.
- The win keeps alive Joshua's planned fight with Tyson Fury in November.
- It was Joshua's first fight since a car accident last December.
Anthony Joshua overcame a shaky start to dramatically stop Kristian Prenga in the second round of their heavyweight bout in Jeddah, according to the BBC and the Guardian.
The Briton was floored twice in the opening round, with the Guardian reporting he was on the canvas inside 20 seconds and again later in the first. After what the outlet described as a chaotic opening three minutes, the fight looked as though it could end in defeat for Joshua.
He recovered in the second round, delivering what the Guardian called a devastating knockout that left Prenga crumpled on the canvas and wrapped up in the ropes. The stoppage, the paper said, rescued Joshua from humiliation.
The win keeps alive Joshua’s much-anticipated fight with British compatriot Tyson Fury, scheduled for November. The Guardian described the Prenga bout as the final hurdle Joshua needed to clear before that meeting.
The contest marked Joshua’s first appearance in the ring since he was injured in a car accident last December that took the lives of two of his closest friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, according to the Guardian.
The Guardian characterised the encounter as a wild and chaotic firefight of a tune-up, in which Joshua pulled himself out of what it called a dark pit to salvage his career and the planned Fury fight.
Why it matters
Joshua's win preserves one of boxing's biggest potential fights, an all-British heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury in November. The two knockdowns, however, raise questions about his form as he returns from injury and personal tragedy.
Frequently asked questions
Did Anthony Joshua win the fight against Kristian Prenga?
Yes. Despite being knocked down twice in the first round, Joshua recovered to stop Prenga in the second round, according to the BBC and the Guardian.
When is Joshua's fight with Tyson Fury?
The Guardian reports the Joshua–Fury bout is scheduled for November.
Why was this Joshua's first fight in a while?
According to the Guardian, it was Joshua's first bout since he was injured in a car accident last December that took the lives of two of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
Timeline
- Anthony Joshua knocked down twice but stops Kristian Prenga in round two
The Guardian Sport: Briton on canvas inside 20 seconds and later in first Joshua recovers to blast out Albanian in second round Anthony Joshua cleared his final hurdle in the ring, before he fights Tyson Fury in November, but he was knocked down twice, shockingly, in the first round of his wild and
- Joshua knocked down twice in dramatic win
BBC Sport: Anthony Joshua suffers two knockdowns before recovering to dramatically stop Kristian Prenga in the second round.
- Joshua knocked down twice as dramatic win sets up Fury fight
BBC Sport: Anthony Joshua suffers two knockdowns before recovering to dramatically stop Kristian Prenga in the second round.