Albanian boxer Prenga reveals training for early knockout of Joshua

Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga came close to causing a major upset against former world champion Anthony Joshua, knocking him down twice in the first round of their bout in Jeddah. The 35-year-old Prenga, who had only 21 professional fights prior to this match, had won all his previous bouts by knockout, with only one loss on his record.

Joshua, who had selected Prenga as an opponent he expected to defeat easily, found himself in a shocking first round. The referee had to count Joshua out twice, much to the dismay of the fans. This fight marked Joshua's return after a December bout where he knocked out Jake Paul. Shortly after that victory, Joshua experienced a tragic car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends and team members.

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I thought I was going to take him down, already in the second round. But it didn't happen.

Prenga revealed in an interview with Boxing King Media that his aggressive start was not accidental. "I thought I was going to take him down, already in the second round. But it didn't happen," Prenga said. He elaborated on his strategy, stating, "Yes, I trained for it. My plan was to start fast. I wanted to make everyone proud. But it didn't happen."

Despite Prenga's strong opening, Joshua recovered from the knockdowns and went on to win the fight. The bout highlighted Prenga's power and determination, even as Joshua secured the victory, moving past his recent personal tragedy and continuing his boxing career.

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Yes, I trained for it. My plan was to start fast. I wanted to make everyone proud. But it didn't happen.