Joshua knocks out Prenga in 2nd round after knockdowns

Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua survived a dramatic early scare to stop Kristian Prenga in the second round of their fight at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, July 25, 2026. The victory sets the stage for a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury, expected later this year.

Joshua, competing for the first time since a December 2025 victory over Jake Paul, was nearly upset by the Albanian challenger. Prenga, who entered the bout with a record of 20-1 and 20 knockouts, stunned the crowd by dropping Joshua twice in a chaotic first round. The former champion appeared vulnerable and wobbled, but managed to survive the opening three minutes.

After receiving instructions from his corner between rounds, Joshua returned with renewed purpose in the second. He turned the fight around emphatically, landing a series of right hands that knocked Prenga unconscious at the 2:43 mark of the round, securing his 27th career knockout.

In an emotional post-fight interview, Joshua dedicated the win to his close friends and training partners, Latif "Latz" Ayodele and Sina Ghami, who were killed in a car crash in Nigeria in December 2025. He became visibly emotional, stating the...