By Ihechi Enyinnaya
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua made a successful return to the ring on Saturday night, overcoming an early scare to defeat Albania’s Kristian Prenga by second-round knockout in their heavyweight clash at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia.
The bout marked Joshua’s first appearance since recovering from the serious car accident he suffered late last year. It also served as his first fight since his victory over Jake Paul in December 2025.
Prenga stunned the crowd in the opening round by flooring Joshua with heavy punches, putting the British boxer under significant pressure. However, Joshua regained his composure before the end of the round and returned with renewed determination.
In the second round, Joshua capitalized on an opening, landing a crushing right hand that sent Prenga crashing through the ropes. The referee immediately stepped in to stop the contest, awarding Joshua a dramatic knockout victory.
The emphatic win boosts Joshua’s hopes of securing a long-anticipated all-British showdown with former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury later this year. Fury also recorded a victory in his own fight on Friday, fueling speculation that the two rivals could finally meet in one of boxing’s biggest heavyweight clashes.
Joshua’s performance, despite the early knockdown, demonstrated his resilience and ability to recover under pressure, giving fans optimism that he is ready to compete once again at the highest level of the heavyweight division.