Joshua's victory now clears the path for a blockbuster clash with Tyson Fury later this year after Fury defeated Poland's Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday. Wach retired on his stool before the eighth round
Jeddah. Anthony Joshua hailed resilience as the defining trait of champions after recovering from two first-round knockdowns to stop Albanian Kristian Prenga and move a step closer to a long-awaited all-British showdown with Tyson Fury.
The former world heavyweight champion endured a nightmare start in his comeback fight at the Jeddah Superdome on Saturday, hitting the canvas twice in the opening round after being caught by Prenga's powerful punches.
However, Joshua responded emphatically in the second round, unleashing a series of heavy right hands that sent Prenga crashing into the ropes before the referee stepped in to award the 36-year-old a technical knockout victory.
"He is a serious fighter, strong, and durable, and he gave me a good test," Joshua said after the fight.
"But this is what champions do. We rise. We get knocked down; we stand up and we keep going. That's life."
The victory marked Joshua's first fight since he was injured in a car crash in Nigeria last December that claimed the lives of two of his closest friends, making the emotional comeback even more significant.
His promoter, Eddie Hearn, praised Joshua's determination after surviving the early scare.
"When you go down a couple of times in the first round and you're looking like your career might be over, he had to dig deep one more time to get up and fight on," Hearn said.
Joshua's victory now clears the path for a blockbuster clash with Tyson Fury later this year after Fury defeated Poland's Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday. Wach retired on his stool before the eighth round.
"We've signed the contract; everything's done," Hearn confirmed. "But tonight was about the strength Anthony showed just to be here and the courage he displayed inside the ring."
The win keeps alive one of boxing's most anticipated heavyweight contests, with Joshua's fighting spirit once again taking centre stage.
