* Strengthens case for blockbuster showdown with Fury
By Teddy Nwanunobi
Nigerian-British-born heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua, late Saturday night overcame two first round knockdowns to deliver a second round knockout to stop Albanian Kristian Prenga in his first fight since surviving a fatal car crash in Nigeria last December that took the lives of close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
Daily NewsCraft reports that the fight took place at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia.
The former two-time heavyweight world champion’s victory came after just 4 minutes and 52 seconds of action, when he forced the referee to stop the fight 1 minute, 52 seconds into the second round.
Joshua, who turns 37 later this year, entered the contest looking to bounce back from a lengthy spell away from the ring, while Prenga arrived unbeaten in his previous 16 fights, and boasting a perfect knockout record during that run.
Despite the Albanian’s aggressive start, Joshua quickly found his rhythm, landing a series of heavy combinations that ended the contest.
The victory has strengthened Joshua’s case for a long-discussed all-British blockbuster showdown with Tyson Fury, 38, who defeated 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday, later this year, with promoters expected to intensify talks following his convincing comeback performance.
Official details on when and where the Fury fight will take place are still being finalised by organisers. The mega-fight between Joshua and Fury is targeted for November 2026, with November 14, 2026, emerging as a heavily discussed potential date.
Meanwhile, Joshua has dedicated his victory over Prenga to his late friends and trainers, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
Speaking after the fight, Joshua, who entered the ring wearing camouflage attire bearing the names of the deceased coaches in their honour, described the victory as a tribute to their memory.
“It’s what champions do. We rise, we get knocked down and we stand up and keep going. That’s life.
“It was more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina and their families. It still hurts to talk about it. It’s been tough,” he said.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, praised the former champion’s resilience, describing his performance as remarkable given the personal tragedy he had endured.
“No one can imagine what Anthony has been through in the last seven months. To even step into the ring was astonishing,” Hearn said.
Joshua, who welcomed the prospect of facing Fury, said that he respected his fellow Briton’s achievements but was ready for the contest.
“I respect everything he has achieved, but this is the fight we’ve been calling for and now we’re here. I hope the fans will enjoy it. I’ve learned that I can’t be stopped, I won’t be denied, and we’re coming,” he added.
Fury did not attend Joshua’s fight, as he returned to the Isle of Man after his bout.