Anthony Joshua stays on track for a showdown with British heavyweight rival Tyson Fury later this yr after recovering from being knocked down inside 20 seconds to safe a second-round knockout of Kristian Prenga in a wild conflict in Jeddah.
Joshua endured a dismal first three minutes on Saturday night time, hitting the canvas twice, firstly from a vicious uppercut, with the Albanian knockout specialist eyeing a seismic shock.
However, Prenga was demolished by proper arms quickly after in AJ’s first outing since he was a passenger in a automobile crash in December that killed mates Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
Anthony Joshua was sensationally knocked down by Kristian Prenga within the opening 20 seconds
An emotional Joshua devoted his win to his late staff members, saying: “It’s more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the families. It hurts to even talk about it. It has been tough. It’s my brothers. I don’t want to talk about it.”
Fury had completed his own stoppage victory on Friday, over Polish veteran Mariusz Wach in a non-televised bout fought in entrance of a small crowd in Thailand, before vowing not to travel to Saudi Arabia for a face-off with Joshua, who he might now field in November.
There was no signal of Fury as Joshua overcame a boxer in Prenga who had recorded every of his 20 victories by way of knockout and gained his earlier 16 contests since a primary profession defeat in February 2017.
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Dev Sahni reveals how Tyson Fury toppled Mariusz Wach in a non-TV battle in Thailand
Prenga’s stats made for sturdy studying and though there have been no huge names on his CV he threatened a shocking end result – one that would have shattered hopes of Joshua dealing with Fury – earlier than the Brit registered his thirtieth win in 34 fights and second in a row, having overwhelmed Jake Paul in Miami final yr weeks earlier than his automobile crash.
Fury contracts signed however no venue but
After a hiccup-free weekend for Fury and Joshua coming by early adversity, a long-awaited all-British scrap appears set to occur within the autumn, with contracts already signed.
It might probably be staged at 2am UK time at Wembley Stadium to go well with a worldwide viewers however Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has said America is the preferred venue for battle organiser Turki Alalshikh.
If and when this conflict does happen – Fury questioned whether Joshua would have the “guts” to challenge him as he spoke after dismissing Wach – boxing followers will get what they’ve needed for years and, at varied factors, doubted they’d ever see.
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Speaking forward of the weekend, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn hit again at Fury’s claims he was nervous a couple of potential bout in opposition to AJ falling by
Fears of Joshua struggling a fifth professional defeat, after two losses to Oleksandr Usyk – the identical as Fury – and one every to Daniel Dubois and Andy Ruiz, have been rampant after his stunning begin in opposition to Prenga however his flurry of heavy blows within the second spherical earned him victory.
On Fury, Joshua added: “I am going to rip his heart out. I am the meanest and most vicious champion there has ever been!
“All jokes apart, I respect all the things he has completed and achieved however we’re right here now. I hope the followers shall be in for a stunning deal with.”
Anthony Joshua walks to the ring forward of his assembly with Kristian Prenga in Jeddah
Joshua additionally reserved reward for Prenga, saying: “He’s a strong guy and I think Eddie [Hearn] wants to sign him now!
“He goes to do effectively and has a brilliant future. Maybe with a bit extra expertise, he shall be up there with the remainder of us.
“He is strong and durable and gave me a good test but this is what champions do, we rise. We get knocked down and stand up.
“That’s life.”
Watch Edgar Berlanga vs Steven Butler and Richardson Hitchins vs Ricardo Salas, in New York, live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event from 10pm Sunday. Stream boxing with NOW.
