JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Anthony Joshua was knocked down twice in the opening round by Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga before recovering to score a second-round knockout on Saturday night at the Jeddah Superdome.
Prenga, a massive underdog with a 20-1 record (all wins by knockout), stunned the former two-time heavyweight champion early. Joshua absorbed the early pressure, steadied himself, and turned the fight around decisively in Round 2 to secure the win.
The bout served as Joshua’s first fight since his December 2025 knockout of Jake Paul and the subsequent car accident that claimed the lives of two close friends. It was widely viewed as a tune-up ahead of a potential late-2026 clash with Tyson Fury.On the Joshua vs Fury question
Yes — this result keeps the long-awaited “Battle of Britain” firmly on track. Both men needed to come through their respective warm-ups (Fury faced Mariusz Wach the night before), and Joshua’s dramatic win maintains the momentum toward a scheduled meeting later this year.
Who wins Joshua vs Fury? It remains one of the most intriguing heavyweight matchups of the decade. Joshua’s power and Olympic pedigree give him a clear path to victory if he can impose his jab and avoid prolonged exchanges. Fury’s size, movement, and ring IQ have historically troubled bigger punchers.
At this stage, with both men in their mid-to-late 30s and carrying recent ring rust or inactivity, the fight looks highly competitive and style-dependent. Many analysts lean toward Fury’s experience in big fights, while others believe a sharp, motivated Joshua has the tools to stop him. The actual outcome will likely hinge on who controls the distance and adapts better after the early rounds.


