Reporting note: this article draws on Sky Sports; LodiScore provides the summary and editorial framing.
Early Shock on the Canvas in Jeddah
Anthony Joshua survived a sudden first-round knockdown to stop Kristian Prenga inside two rounds in Jeddah, securing his 30th professional victory and keeping a prospective heavyweight clash with Tyson Fury on schedule for later this year.
The bout began with immediate disruption. Inside the opening 20 seconds, Prenga connected cleanly, sending Joshua down to the canvas and jarring the former two-time world champion before he had established his jab. Joshua absorbed the impact, rose, and navigated the remainder of a turbulent opening three minutes against an Albanian opponent carrying 20 knockouts in as many career victories.
Stoppage in the Second Round
Order was restored swiftly in the second frame. Joshua found his distance, planted his feet, and unloaded heavy combinations to the head and midsection. The short, concussive impact of leather landing flush broke Prenga's resistance, forcing the referee to halt the contest as Prenga was dismantled under sustained pressure.
The result marks Joshua's second consecutive victory following a win over Jake Paul late last year, improving his career record to 30 wins and 4 defeats. It was also Joshua's first ring appearance since surviving a fatal car crash in Nigeria last December that claimed the lives of team members Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele.
Path Cleared for Autumn Showdown with Tyson Fury
Joshua’s quick turnaround follows a parallel result for Tyson Fury, who stopped Polish veteran Mariusz Wach in an untelevised bout in Thailand on Friday. Fury opted against traveling to Saudi Arabia for an in-ring face-off, but both men have now cleared their respective tune-up hurdles.
Promoter Eddie Hearn indicated that fight organizer Turki Alalshikh prefers the United States as the host location for a potential November showdown, though an overnight UK staging at Wembley Stadium remains an alternative concept. With both fighters recording stoppage wins over the weekend, negotiations for the long-awaited all-British heavyweight meeting move toward a decisive phase for autumn.
