Joshua vs Prenga LIVE!
Anthony Joshua remains on course for a super-fight against Tyson Fury despite suffering a major unexpected scare against Kristian Prenga. Joshua was the overwhelming favourite to brush aside his little-known Albanian opponent in Jeddah on Saturday night, but was knocked down twice in a disastrous first round as Prenga threated to pull off one of the biggest upsets in boxing history that would surely have derailed plans for Joshua to finally face Fury in a long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown later in 2026.
However, Joshua recovered quickly to knock out Prenga in the second round of what was his first fight since suffering minor injuries as a passenger in a serious car accident in Nigeria in December that claimed the lives of two of his close friends and long-time team members in Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele. Fury was not in attendance at the Jeddah Superdome following his dominant seventh-round defeat of veteran Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday.
Elsewhere on Saturday’s main card, Hamzah Sheeraz successfully defended his WBO super-middleweight title for the first time despite an underwhelming display against Simon Zachenhuber, while Josh Kelly remains the IBF super-welterweight champion after a gruelling battle with Caoimhin Agyarko. There were also impressive early wins for Reito Tsutsumi, Jacob Bank and Nishant Dev. Follow Joshua vs Prenga reaction live below!
Joshua vs Prenga latest news
Anthony Joshua sends Tyson Fury message ahead of super-fight Joshua dramatically knocks out Kristian Prenga in round two Joshua put down twice in shocking first round in Jeddah Underwhelming Hamzah Sheeraz retains WBO super-middleweight title Bloodied Josh Kelly outpoints Caoimhin Agyarko to defend IBF belt Reito Tsutsumi blitzes Alvino Herrera in second round Jacob Bank shines again in win over Pawel August India's Nishant Dev stops Cesar Diaz in first roundLive updates
Emotional Joshua reflects on return after tragic car crash
And here’s a tearful Joshua when quizzed about his strength to return tonight after that tragic December car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of his close friends and long-time team members Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
“It’s what champions do. We rise, we get knocked down and we stand up and we keep going, that’s life’s motto,” he said.
“It’s more than punch power, that was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the families. It hurts even talking about it. It’s been tough.”
He added: “It’s my brothers. I don’t want to talk about it.”
GettyAnthony Joshua sends new Tyson Fury message: We're here now
Here’s more from Anthony Joshua talking about Tyson Fury in the ring after tonight’s dramatic and utterly chaotic comeback win over Kristian Prenga in Jeddah.
“Wait a minute, have we got Tyson Fury in the room? To more important matters, is he here or not?
“All jokes aside, there are two sides. One is the fighter, you have to have that vim, and the other is respect.
“I respect everything he has done and everything that he has achieved, but as a fighting person and someone who has been calling for this fight for a long time, we’re here now.
“I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat.”
GettyOleksandr Usyk reacts to chaotic Anthony Joshua win
Oleksandr Usyk went through a lot of emotions at ringside during one of the most chaotic five minutes of heavyweight boxing you are ever likely to see...
An emotional Joshua is understandably fighting back the tears in the ring as he is asked about his strength just to return tonight after the deaths of his long-time team members Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele in that car accident in Nigeria in December.
He understandably doesn’t want to talk too much about it as he pays tribute to his late friends.
Joshua deserves massive respect for the strength he has shown to recover from such a tragedy and resume his career.
Anthony Joshua sends message to Tyson Fury
It appears that Tyson Fury really has stayed away tonight.
Joshua excitedly asks during his post-fight interview with DAZN in the ring if Fury is here, but he obviously isn’t going to make any sort of dramatic late entrance.
Asked if he has a message for Fury, Joshua recites the famous Mike Tyson ‘I’m the best ever’ speech that followed his 38-second stoppage win over Lou Savarese in Glasgow in 2000.
GettyI don’t quite know how to process that absolutely wild couple of rounds.
I have never seen Joshua as bad as he was in that first round. Ever.
He was absolutely all over the place and extremely fortunate to see the bell.
Prenga will be absolutely raging that he let him straight back into the contest at the start of the second.
He was so, so close to one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.
A more positive start to that second and he would surely have sealed it and completely wrecked the Fury-Joshua plans.
Anthony Joshua recovers to knock out Kristian Prenga in second round
JOSHUA RECOVERS TO KNOCK PRENGA OUT IN THE SECOND ROUND!
TALK ABOUT DRAMA!
My word.
Down twice in one of the worst rounds of his career, he comes firing straight back to smash Prenga with a trademark right hand that sends him almost through the ropes.
Not a chance he was beating that count.
GettyJoshua vs Prenga
Are we about to see one of the biggest upsets in boxing history?!
Prenga is letting Joshua come firing back early in the second round...
GettyJoshua vs Prenga
I cannot believe what I am seeing here!
Joshua is absolutely all over the place, on totally shaky legs as the powerful Prenga continues to rain down heavy blows.
Joshua is hanging on here and seems to have some sort of problem with his leg.
He will do very well indeed to make the end of this round.
Every punch from Prenga seems to hurt him, his gloves touch the canvas again and he’s counted for the second time in the first round!
Incredible.
Joshua vs Prenga
Here we go!
Will this be as emphatic as everyone expects?
JOSHUA IS DOWN AFTER AN UPPERCUT IN THE FIRST 20 SECONDS!
I REPEAT, JOSHUA IS DOWN IN THE FIRST 20 SECONDS!
OH MY WORD! HE’S BACK UP, BUT AN ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING START IN JEDDAH!
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