Former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua made a triumphant return to the ring in Jeddah, overcoming two early knockdowns to defeat Albania’s Kristian Prenga with a dramatic second-round knockout.
The victory marked Joshua’s first fight since surviving a tragic car crash in Nigeria that took the lives of his close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele.
Dramatic comeback in Jeddah
The fight opened with intense drama as Prenga sent Joshua to the canvas just 20 seconds into the opening round with a powerful right uppercut. After surviving a second knockdown, Joshua steadied himself in the second round, landing a devastating right hand at 2:43 to secure the knockout victory.
Dedicated to lost friends
Holding back tears during his post-fight interview, an emotional Joshua dedicated the win to his late friends and their grieving families.
Explaining how he found the strength to recover during the fight, Joshua said, “That was spirit. That was Latz and Sina. That was the family.”
Rising above heartbreak
Reflecting on the grueling bout and the difficult months following the December accident, the 36-year-old boxer showed immense resilience.
“He gave me a good test but this is what champions do: we rise. We get knocked down and stand up,” declared Joshua, adding that perseverance remains life’s ultimate motto.
Looking ahead to Fury
With the emotional comeback complete, promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that contracts are signed for an all-British mega-fight against Tyson Fury. Sending a fiery warning to his rival, Joshua stated, “I’m gonna rip his heart out! I’m the meanest, most vicious champion that has ever been.”
