Joshua’s Emotional Return
Anthony Joshua secured a dramatic victory against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, marking his return to the ring. The British heavyweight, 36, was knocked down twice in the first round but recovered to stop Prenga in the second. This fight was Joshua’s first since a car crash in Nigeria in December that resulted in the deaths of his friends, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
The emotional context of the fight was evident, with Joshua stating, “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.” He also wore the names of Ghami and Ayodele on his chest and had their names, alongside the words ‘My Brother’s Keeper’, on the canvas.
The fight began with an unexpected turn, as Prenga landed a right uppercut just 20 seconds into the opening round, sending Joshua to the canvas. Despite the shock, Joshua smiled as he rose. Later in the same round, a left uppercut from Prenga caused Joshua to be knocked down again, creating a moment of significant drama.
Prenga, who entered the fight with 20 knockouts from 20 victories, sensed an opportunity after the early knockdowns. Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, was observed giving instructions from ringside, while stablemate Oleksandr Usyk watched with concern.
A Resilient Comeback
Despite appearing unsteady at the start of the second round, Joshua capitalised when Prenga surprisingly began to box defensively. Joshua drew Prenga onto a jab before unleashing a powerful right hand. More right hands followed, leading to Prenga’s collapse and the referee’s decision to halt the contest.
This victory improved Joshua’s record to 30-4. For Prenga, 35, this marked his second career loss. The fight was seen as a test for Joshua against a recognised professional opponent, his first since facing Daniel Dubois in September 2024. His only other fight since then was against Jake Paul in December, 10 days before the fatal car crash.
Hearn acknowledged the difficult period Joshua had endured, stating, “No-one knows what he’s been through over the last seven months. When he went down in the first round, I thought he’d come back too soon.”
Anticipation for Fury Fight
The win sets the stage for a highly anticipated fight against fellow Briton Tyson Fury. Contracts for this bout have been signed, though the specific venue and date remain unconfirmed. The fight, which has been over a decade in the making, is understood to be agreed for November.
There had been speculation about Fury’s attendance at Joshua’s fight in Jeddah, especially after Fury’s own warm-up win over Mariusz Wach in Thailand. However, Fury did not make an appearance, with his manager, Spencer Brown, stating he would be “there in spirit.”
Joshua expressed his respect for Fury’s achievements, 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.”
The commercial appeal of a fight between Joshua and Fury remains strong. The bout is expected to stream on Netflix. While British fans hope for a homecoming event, reports suggest that Saudi organisers and broadcasters favour a venue in the United States to cater to American audiences. Hearn confirmed, “We’ve signed the contract. Everything is done.”
Source: bbc.com
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Joel Kavanagh is a Sports News Writer at News-GB. He started on a Midlands sports desk. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from De Montfort University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Leicester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight calendar. “In sport news, the first ten minutes decide everything.”