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Anthony Joshua produced a dramatic comeback to stop Kristian Prenga in the second round after being knocked down twice inside the opening 20 seconds of their heavyweight contest in Jeddah.
The former two-time world heavyweight champion endured a nightmare start, hitting the canvas twice in the opening round as Prenga threatened a major upset.
Joshua, however, responded in emphatic fashion. The British star regained his composure and unleashed a series of devastating right hands that overwhelmed Prenga, forcing a second-round knockout.
The bout marked Joshua’s first appearance since surviving the December car crash that claimed the lives of his friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele.
The victory improved Joshua’s professional record to 30 wins from 34 fights and extended his winning streak to two, following last year’s triumph over Jake Paul just weeks before the tragic accident.
Read Also:Thorough Rehabilitation Behind Joshua’s Comeback To The Ring -Hearn
Despite the explosive finish, Joshua was full of praise for his opponent.
“He’s a strong guy, and I think Eddie [Hearn] wants to sign him now!” Joshua was quoted by Sky Sports after the fight.
“He is going to do well and has a bright future. Maybe with a bit more experience, he will be up there with the rest 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.”
Joshua will now turn his focus to a long-awaited all-British showdown with Tyson Fury.
Fury also recorded a victory on Friday night, defeating Polish veteran Mariusz Wach in Thailand to set the stage for a blockbuster heavyweight clash with Joshua.
By Adeboye Amosu
