Anthony Joshua stages dramatic comeback to defeat Kristian Prenga

British heavyweight Anthony Joshua recovered from two early knockdowns to defeat Albanian boxer Kristian Prenga by knockout in Jeddah, setting up a long-awaited showdown with fellow Briton Tyson Fury later this year, AFP reported.

Joshua endured a dramatic start to the fight. Just 20 seconds into the opening round, a powerful right uppercut from Prenga caught him on the chin and sent him to the canvas. After getting back to his feet, Joshua was pinned against the ropes and knocked down again near the end of the first round, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

The former world champion responded emphatically in the second round, neutralizing Prenga's power before landing a sharp combination that ended with a devastating left hand, securing a knockout victory.

The bout marked Joshua's first fight since the car accident in Nigeria in December 2025 that interrupted his career. The crash claimed the lives of two of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.

An emotional Joshua paid tribute to them after the fight.

"It was about spirit; it was for Latz, it was for Sina. It was for family," he said in the ring.

The victory paves the way for the highly anticipated "Battle for England" against Tyson Fury, scheduled for November, with the venue yet to be announced.

Fury, 37, had a much more comfortable tune-up fight on Friday, defeating Poland's Mariusz Wach after Wach retired in the seventh round in Pattaya, Thailand.

Joshua also fired the opening verbal salvo ahead of the clash.

"I'm going to rip his heart out! I'm the fiercest and most ruthless champion there's ever been. Nobody can stop me," he said before striking a more respectful tone. "Joking aside, there are two sides to this story. One is the fire—you need that energy and that anger. But there's also respect. I respect everything he's done and achieved. Still, as a fighter, and as someone who has wanted this fight for a long time, the time has come."

Photo: Instagram