Anthony Joshua endured a challenging bout in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, surviving two knockdowns before securing a knockout victory against Kristian Prenga. This outcome paves the way for a highly anticipated showdown with Tyson Fury, who also fought this weekend, achieving an uninspiring win in Thailand.
The fight, which lasted just five minutes and 43 seconds, saw Joshua knocked down twice in the first round by Prenga. A sweeping right hand from Prenga, the first significant punch of the fight, disoriented Joshua, leading to a jolting uppercut that sent him to the canvas within the first 20 seconds. Joshua managed to push himself up after a count of eight, but his legs appeared unstable. He was in trouble again shortly after, reeling into the ropes from a sharp right cross. Another uppercut sent him down a second time, though his gloves only briefly touched the canvas before he rose.
Despite these early difficulties, Joshua displayed fortitude. During the break between rounds, the dynamic of the fight shifted. Prenga, who had threatened to derail the planned fight between Joshua and Fury, seemed to back away in the second round, allowing Joshua to regain control. Joshua then unleashed a series of punches, pinning Prenga in a corner. Successive combinations caused Prenga to sag, and a ferocious right hand ultimately led to his knockout, marking Joshua’s 27th knockout victory.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, acknowledged the difficult moments during the fight. Hearn stated that when Joshua went down in the first round, he initially thought Joshua might have returned to the ring too soon. He also highlighted the strength Joshua demonstrated to even participate in the fight, given recent personal tragedies.
Joshua himself reflected on the experience, stating it was a tough moment but a valuable lesson. He emphasized the need to start faster and be ready from the outset. He also suggested that the fight was an eye-opener, particularly regarding his punch resistance, which was visibly tested.
The fight followed a period of personal difficulty for Joshua. He was involved in a car accident seven months prior, which resulted in the deaths of his close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele. Joshua wore camouflage gear with their names on his chest during the event and became emotional when speaking about them after the fight. He attributed his recovery and fighting spirit to their memory, stating, “That was spirit. That was Latz, that was Sina, that was their families.”
Meanwhile, Tyson Fury secured a victory against Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday night. Fury’s win, a seventh-round TKO, was described as uninspiring. Wach, a 46-year-old Polish heavyweight, managed to land a couple of punches on Fury, suggesting that Fury’s elusiveness in the ring may have diminished. Despite this, Fury is still considered a formidable fighter capable of inflicting serious damage.
The signed contracts for the fight between Fury and Joshua stipulate that the contest will take place in the UK in November. However, there is now an expectation that the fight could instead be held in the US, which might necessitate new contracts and potentially cause further delays to the event. Joshua expressed respect for Fury, acknowledging his achievements and stating that he hopes fans will be treated to a great fight.
Joshua also praised Prenga, thanking him and his team for the fight and suggesting that Prenga has a bright future in boxing. He described Prenga as a serious, strong, and durable fighter who provided a good test. Joshua’s victory, despite the early chaos, keeps the highly anticipated showdown with Fury on track for later this year.
Source: theguardian.com
Leo Ashworth is a Sports News Writer at Latest News UK. He cut his teeth on regional sport before specialising in fast breaking-news writing. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Central Lancashire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Newcastle, he follows the European Tour and boxes at an amateur gym. “Get it right first, then tell readers why it matters.”