Joshua knocks out Prenga after early scare, sets up Fury fight
Anthony Joshua recovered from two first-round knockdowns to knock out Kristian Prenga in the second round in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on July 26, 2026. The victory, dedicated to two friends killed in a December 2025 car crash that Joshua survived, moves him closer to a heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury. Contracts for the all-British fight, likely in November, have been signed, with potential venues in the USA or Wembley Stadium.
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Anthony Joshua knocked down twice but wins by TKO in comeback fight
Anthony Joshua (36) made a dramatic comeback victory on July 26, 2026, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, defeating Albanian boxer Kristian Prenga (35) by technical knockout in the second round. The fight started disastrously for Joshua, who was knocked down twice in the first round—once after 20 seconds and again 40 seconds before the bell. However, he returned in the second round as a different fighter, following his coaching team's instructions to work with his lead hand and increase pressure. He floored Prenga with a barrage of punches 30 seconds before the bell, prompting referee Luis Pabon to stop the fight. Joshua dedicated the victory to his two best friends, Latif 'Latz' Ayodele and Sina Ghami, who died in a car accident in Nigeria in December 2025. Joshua survived with minor injuries. The win sets up a long-awaited 'Battle of Britain' against Tyson Fury, scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026.
Three knockdowns in two rounds! Highlights of Joshua's comeback fight
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua made a successful comeback bout against Kristian Prenga, following a car crash, scoring three knockdowns in two rounds. The victory returns Joshua to winning ways and sets up a blockbuster all-British showdown with Tyson Fury. The highlights were provided by DAZN and published by Sky Sports Football on July 26, 2026.
Anthony Joshua survives two knockdowns in win to keep alive all-British fight vs. Tyson Fury
Anthony Joshua defeated Kristian Prenga by knockout in a heavyweight boxing match in Saudi Arabia, despite being knocked down twice during the fight. The victory keeps alive the prospect of an all-British showdown between Joshua and Tyson Fury. The fight was described as chaotic, and analysts noted that Joshua's performance raised urgent questions about his form, while Fury's recent outings have been uninspiring. The event was a pay-per-view broadcast, and multiple major outlets covered the match, highlighting its significance for the heavyweight division.
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Joshua dedicates win to late friends as 'lovely treat' of Fury fight looms
Anthony Joshua survived a major scare against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, being knocked down twice in the first round before securing a second-round knockout. The emotional victory sets up a long-awaited heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury, likely in November in the United States. Joshua dedicated the win to his late friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, who died in a car crash in December in which he was a passenger. Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed contracts have been signed for the Fury fight. Joshua expressed respect for Fury's achievements but vowed to 'rip his heart out' in what he called a 'lovely treat' for boxing fans.
Anthony Joshua Knocks Out Kristian Prenga After Early Scare, Moves Closer to Tyson Fury Showdown
Anthony Joshua recovered from being knocked down twice in the first 20 seconds to score a second-round knockout victory over Kristian Prenga in Jeddah. The win keeps Joshua on track for a long-awaited all-British heavyweight fight against Tyson Fury, likely in November. Joshua dedicated the victory to his late friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, who died in a car crash last December. Fury also won his own bout against Mariusz Wach in Thailand earlier in the week. Contracts for the Joshua-Fury fight have reportedly been signed, with potential venues including Wembley Stadium or a location in the United States.
Anthony Joshua knocks out Kristian Prenga after first-round scare, moves closer to Tyson Fury fight
Anthony Joshua recovered from being knocked down twice in the first 20 seconds to secure a second-round knockout of Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, keeping him on course for a blockbuster all-British heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury later this year. Joshua's first outing since surviving a car crash in Nigeria last December that killed two close associates saw him face Prenga, an Albanian knockout specialist with 20 career KOs. Despite the early scare, Joshua registered his 30th win in 34 fights. Fury had earlier completed a seventh-round stoppage of Mariusz Wach in a non-televised bout in Thailand, and has questioned whether Joshua has the 'guts' to face him. Promoter Eddie Hearn indicated the potential fight, possibly in November, could be staged in the USA or at Wembley Stadium to suit a global audience.