ANTHONY JOSHUA DEFEATS KRISTIAN PRENGA IN SECOND-ROUND KNOCKOUT

Anthony Joshua knocked out Kristian Prenga in the second round on Saturday night at the Jeddah Superdome in Riyadh, securing a comeback victory on the card promoted by Matchroom Boxing and Queensberry Promotions. Joshua was dropped twice by Prenga in the opening round—at twenty seconds and moments later—but survived to the end of the first. In the second round, Joshua dropped Prenga with a sharp flurry and finished the fight with a right hand at two minutes thirty-four seconds.

Joshua, aged 36, returned to the ring following a personal setback in which he lost two close friends and team members in a car accident. The bout against Prenga, whose record is now 20-2, came ahead of anticipated negotiations for a fight against Tyson Fury, who won his own bout on Friday night. Joshua entered the contest as the favourite despite Prenga's slight size advantage. After the knockout, Joshua praised Prenga's performance, saying: "He's a strong guy and I think Eddie Hearn wants to sign him now! He is going to do well. He has a serious future. With experience he will be up there with the rest of us."

Boxing coach Dave Coldwell offered a critical assessment of Joshua's display, posting that "Joshua is without a doubt shot to bits" and that his "punch resistance looks completely gone." Coldwell added that Joshua was "saved by the bell" in the first round. Joshua's comeback victory and Fury's recent win set the stage for a potential all-British heavyweight showdown between the two fighters.