Anthony Joshua knocks out Kristian Prenga in second round comeback

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, after he was knocked down twice, shockingly, in the first round of his wild and chaotic bout with Kristian Prenga in the early hours of Sunday morning in Jeddah. A devastating knockout in the second left Prenga crumpled in a heap on the canvas, wrapped up in the ropes, and rescued Joshua from humiliation. After the opening three minutes his extravaganza with Fury looked as if it was about to end in abject ruins but Joshua pulled himself out of a dark pit streaked with defeat to salvage his career – and his much-hyped fight with his British compatriot. This was a crazy firefight of a tune-up for Joshua, who was boxing for the first time since being injured in the car accident that took the lives of two of his closest friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, last December. Continue reading...

A massive showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is on track – but Kristian Prenga nearly thew a wrench in those plans.

Anthony Joshua returned to the boxing ring for the first time since his near-fatal car accident late last year as the former world heavyweight champion decimated Kristian Prenga via second-round knockout earlier tonight (Sat., July 25, 2026) LIVE on DAZN pay-per-view (PPV) from inside Jeddah Superdome in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Joshua, who turns 37 later […]

Anthony Joshua wins and sets up a showdown against Tyson Fury

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - JULY 25: Anthony Joshua (camouflage shorts) wins his Heavyweight contest against Kristian Prenga during the Anthony Joshua v Kristian Prenga: The Comeback fight night at Jeddah Superdome on July 25, 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing/Getty Images) | Matchroom Boxing/Getty Images Anthony Joshua almost suffered one of the most stunning upsets in history after Kristian Prenga scored two knockdowns on the former heavyweight champion in the opening round. But just when it looked like Joshua was doomed to fail and his highly anticipated showdown against Tyson Fury would fall apart again, the British slugger recovered and came out launching bombs in the second round. With Prenga fading, Joshua unloaded a brutal right hand that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas and through the bottom rope. It didn’t take long for the referee to stop the fight with the end coming at 2:43 in the second round. Anthony Joshua just caught a body and walked away laughing 🤯 pic.twitter.com/xMQQthhfwK — Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) July 25, 2026 “It was more than me that just picked me up,” Joshua said about the stunning opening round. “It can’t just be me. There’s a higher power that’s calling.” While he was celebrating his win, Joshua quickly turned his attention towards Fury with his promoter Eddie Hearn saying the long awaited fight was already signed for later this year. “Have we got Tyson Fury in the room, actually?” Joshua shouted. “To more important matters, I’m going to rip his heart out. I’m the meanest and most vicious champion there’s ever been. Nobody can stop me. Alexander? No, he’s no Alexander. “I respect everything that he’s done and everything he’s achieved but as a fighting person who’s been calling for this fight for a long time … I think he fans will be in for a treat.” Before he gets to Fury, Joshua first had to leave the crowd on pins and needles after the way the fight started on Saturday. In a shocking turn of events, Prenga launched an uppercut that blasted Joshua and sent him crashing to the canvas. Joshua was able to get back to his feet but he was obviously shocked at what just happened. Prenga stayed on the attack as he kept swinging hammers trying to put Joshua back down again. Joshua was potentially dealing with some kind of leg injury after the knocked as he looked unstable whenever he was standing. Prenga blasted Joshua with another ferocious right hand that wobbled and put the former heavyweight champion down again. Another wild exchange ended he opening round as Joshua smiled at his opponent before returning to his corner. As the second round got started, Joshua was aggressive throwing combinations and Prenga was seemingly losing steam. Joshua backed him into the corner and unloaded several stiff punches in succession as Prenga was forced to play defense. Realizing that Prenga was still hurt, Joshua came after him with everything in his arsenal until he blasted the Albanian heavyweight a huge shot that put him down and he actually fell through the bottom rope. As soon as Prenga hit the canvas, it was pretty clear he was done but the referee gave him time to attempt to recover. A moment later, the fight was waved off as Joshua celebrated his comeback victory after he hit the ground twice in the opening round. The win puts Joshua in position for one of the biggest boxing matches of the year with all signs pointing towards a showdown against Fury before 2026 is over. There are still some details that have to be worked out like the location for the fight but it appears Joshua vs. Fury is finally going to happen.

Anthony Joshua had to come off the canvas, but he beat Kristian Prenga and looks to Tyson Fury next

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - JULY 25: Kristian Prenga punches Anthony Joshua during the Heavyweight contest fight between Anthony Joshua and Kristian Prenga in the Anthony Joshua v Kristian Prenga: The Comeback fight night at Jeddah Superdome on July 25, 2026 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images) | Getty Images Kristian Prenga nearly scored the upset of a lifetime. The 35-year-old Albanian-American underdog put former world champion Anthony Joshua down twice in the first round, but Joshua roared back to knock Prenga out at 2:43 of Round 2. Joshua (30-4, 27 KO) is now clear to pursue his long-awaited — and, really, clearly overdue — fight against Tyson Fury, who had his own tune-up on Friday in Thailand, stopping 46-year-old Mariusz Wach. There are clearer and louder questions than ever about Joshua’s viability as a top-level fighter. He looked every day of his 36 years in this fight, and like a fighter whose glory days are pretty well behind him. Prenga, who was nowhere near considered a real contender, was the first actual professional boxer Joshua had beaten since 2023. But the fight with Fury looks pretty much set, even if there still isn’t a date or location announced. “You’ve got to have that fire, but also there’s respect. I respect everything he’s done and everything he’s achieved, but as a fighting person and someone who has been calling for this fight a long time, we’re here now,” Joshua said. Joshua called Prenga a “strong fighter” and said he has a “bright future” and gave him “a good test.” “That’s what champions do,” he said. “We rise, man! We get knocked down, we stand up, and we get going. That’s life.” The 37-year-old Fury (36-2-1, 25 KO) did not appear in the ring after the fight. He had repeatedly said he would not make the flight from Thailand to Saudi Arabia for the fight, but enough people kept the question open that the intrigue was there. Fury, though, didn’t say it just to build anticipation; he really wasn’t there.