Joshua sets stage for Fury fight after KO on ring return

British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua has regained momentum in his career following a dramatic second-round knockout victory over Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Prenga, who entered the bout with an undefeated record of 20 knockouts, sent Joshua to the canvas twice within the opening round, raising the possibility of a significant upset.

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I respect everything he has done and everything that he has achieved, but as a fighting person and as someone who has been calling for this fight for a long time, we are here now.

However, Joshua demonstrated remarkable resilience, recovering from the early knockdowns to dominate the second round. He trapped Prenga against the ropes, forcing the referee to stop the fight. This win improves Joshua's professional record to 30 wins, with 27 by knockout, and marks Prenga's first professional defeat.

Speaking after the fight, Joshua expressed his readiness for a long-awaited bout with Tyson Fury, stating, "I respect everything he has done and everything that he has achieved, but as a fighting person and as someone who has been calling for this fight for a long time, we are here now." He added, "You know what I have learned, I cannot be stopped, I am not going to be stopped, I am not going to be denied."

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You know what I have learned, I cannot be stopped, I am not going to be stopped, I am not going to be denied.

The victory held deep personal significance for Joshua, as it was his first fight since a car crash in Nigeria in December that claimed the lives of two close friends. Visibly emotional, he dedicated the win to their memory, stating, "It is more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the families. It hurts to even talk about it."

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It is more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the families. It hurts to even talk about it.