Joshua survives knockdowns, wins second-round KO, Fury bout

Former two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua survived two first-round knockdowns to score a dramatic second-round knockout victory over Albanian challenger Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, July 25, 2026. The emotional comeback win, Joshua's first fight since a fatal car crash last December, officially paves the way for a long-awaited all-British blockbuster against Tyson Fury, tentatively planned for later this year.

Fighting at the Jeddah Superdome, Joshua was nearly upset in the opening moments. Prenga, an undefeated knockout artist with 20 stoppages in 21 prior fights, sent the 36-year-old Briton to the canvas with a powerful right uppercut just 20 seconds into the bout. Joshua rose but was floored again later in a chaotic first round, appearing seriously hurt before surviving to the bell. He returned for the second round with renewed purpose, backing Prenga into a corner and finishing the fight with a combination capped by a crushing right hand that sent his opponent crashing through the ropes, prompting a referee stoppage.

An emotional Joshua dedicated the victory to his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif "Latz" Ayodele, who were killed in...