Joshua’s challenging return
Anthony Joshua secured a dramatic victory against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after enduring two knockdowns in the first round. The British heavyweight, making his return to the ring, ultimately stopped Prenga in the second round. This fight marked Joshua’s first appearance since a car crash in Nigeria in December, which resulted in the deaths of his close friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
The opening round saw Joshua floored by an uppercut from Prenga within 20 seconds, and he was knocked down again later in the round. Promoter Eddie Hearn expressed concern from ringside, while stablemate Oleksandr Usyk also watched on with apprehension. Despite the early setbacks, Joshua recovered, capitalising on Prenga’s change in strategy in the second round.
Joshua unleashed a series of right hands, with the final blow sending Prenga to the canvas and prompting the referee to halt the contest. Joshua, 36, spoke emotionally after the fight, attributing his resilience to the memory of his friends. He stated, “It’s more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the families. It hurts to even talk about it. It has been tough.” Prenga, 35, recorded his second career loss in this bout.
Setting up the Fury showdown
The victory against Prenga has paved the way for a highly anticipated fight between Joshua and fellow Briton Tyson Fury. Contracts for this long-awaited clash have been signed, though the specific venue and date are yet to be announced. There had been speculation about Fury’s attendance at the Jeddah fight, but he was not present, having recently secured a warm-up win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand.
Joshua commented on the prospect of fighting Fury, saying, “I respect everything he has done and everything that he has achieved, but as a fighting person, we’re here now. I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat.” Hearn confirmed that the contract for the Fury fight is complete, stating, “We’ve signed the contract. Everything is done.”
The fight between Joshua and Fury is understood to have been agreed for November. While some hope for a homecoming event in the UK, reports suggest that Saudi organisers and broadcasters are considering a venue in the United States to appeal to American audiences. The bout is expected to stream on Netflix.
Adversity and resilience
Joshua’s comeback fight was marked by significant emotional weight. He carried the names of Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele on his chest and walked to the ring with his team, with their names also displayed on the canvas alongside the words ‘My Brother’s Keeper’. This period has been described as the most difficult months of his life.
Hearn admitted to fearing the worst during the first round, thinking Joshua might have returned to boxing too soon after the events of the past seven months. However, Joshua’s ability to overcome the early knockdowns demonstrated his resilience. He had previously fought Jake Paul in December, 10 days before the fatal crash that left him injured. Joshua’s last fight against a recognised professional opponent before Prenga was against Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
Joshua also praised Prenga, acknowledging his opponent’s strength and durability. He remarked, “I also want to give a massive thank you to Kristian Prenga and his team for putting on a good fight. It means a lot to them, and it means a lot to me.”
Source: bbc.co.uk
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Charlie Bradshaw is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with ten years of reporting experience. He covered Merseyside football before going national. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Liverpool John Moores University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Liverpool, he watches non-league sides and collects old match programmes. “The back page is only ever half the story.”