Video: Anthony Joshua knocks out Kristian Prenga after tragic crash
Abdullateef Fowewe
Anthony Joshua returned to the ring in dramatic fashion early Sunday, knocking out Albania’s Kristian Prenga with a straight right at 2:43 of the second round at the Jeddah Superdome.
The brief but electric bout served as Joshua’s first fight since a December 29, 2025 car crash on the Lagos‑Ibadan Expressway that killed two close members of his team, strength coach Sina Ghami and trainer Latif “Latz” Ayodele and left Joshua briefly hospitalised with minor injuries.
The former two-time world heavyweight champion had not fought since his December 2025 win over Jake Paul, making this bout a long‑awaited comeback.
Video footage from the Superdome shows Joshua absorbing two early knockdowns in the opening round before landing the decisive straight right in round two that sent Prenga to the canvas.
Prenga, a 35‑year‑old Albanian with a reputation for early knockouts, was unable to beat the count as supporters around the ring erupted.
“I can’t be stopped, I’m not gonna be stopped, I’m not gonna be denied,” Joshua said in the ring after the victory, paying tribute to his late friends and describing the fight as a significant personal return.
The win improved Joshua’s record to 30‑4 and was presented as a tune‑up ahead of a planned heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury later in 2026.
Reactions to the bout were mixed. Some fans praised Joshua’s resilience after the first‑round adversity and his emotional comeback; others criticized the mismatch and suggested Prenga “went down too easily.”
Regardless, the stoppage reinforced Joshua’s position as a contender for the high‑profile Fury clash and marked a defiant step forward after a traumatic off‑ring tragedy.
