Anthony Joshua Defies the Odds With Incredible Comeback KO After Two First-Round Knockdowns

Anthony Joshua produced one of the most dramatic victories of his career, recovering from two first-round knockdowns to stop Albanian-American Kristian Prenga in the second round of their heavyweight contest in Saudi Arabia.

The British-Nigerian heavyweight endured a nightmare start on Saturday night as Prenga landed two heavy punches that sent Joshua to the canvas twice in the opening round.

Despite the early setbacks, the former world champion showed remarkable resilience to survive the round and regroup.

Joshua returned for the second round with renewed determination and quickly turned the fight on its head. He unleashed a thunderous right hand before following up with a devastating combination that sent Prenga crashing through the ropes.

With Prenga unable to continue, the referee waved off the contest at 2:43 of the second round, sealing an incredible comeback victory for Joshua.

The victory improved Joshua’s professional record to 30 wins and four defeats, with 27 of his victories coming by knockout, reaffirming his status as one of boxing’s most dangerous heavyweights.

The bout was also significant as it marked Joshua’s first fight of 2026 and his return to competitive action following the tragic road accident in Nigeria in December 2025 that claimed the lives of two of his close friends and members of his team.

Joshua’s thrilling comeback has now fuelled anticipation for a long-awaited blockbuster heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury later this year, a clash boxing fans around the world have eagerly awaited.