Joshua, with this hard-earned victory, ensures his fight with Tyson Fury remains alive.
By Kehinde Okeowo
British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua on Saturday recovered from two knockdowns in the first round to knock out Kristian Prenga at the Jeddah Superdome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The 36-year-old pugilist was returning to the ring for the first time since he escaped death in a car crash last December in Nigeria.
Paying tribute to his two friends who died in the accident, Joshua ensured their names were sewn into the canvas in front of his red corner.
He, however, began the bout in the worst possible fashion after hitting the canvas within seconds of the opening bell.
Following the poor start, Joshua gave a wry smile as he picked himself up, but it was not long before Prenga pinned him to the canvas again.
He was counted out again with 30 seconds of the round remaining, but he clung on to hear the bell.
Joshua began the second round with far more authority, eventually knocking Prenga down and out.
Dedicating the win to his late friends, he said: “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.”
Joshua then choked up and stepped away from the microphone, before adding: “It’s my brothers. I don’t want to talk about it.”
With this hard-earned victory, the former two-time unified heavyweight champion ensured his prospective fight with Tyson Fury remains alive.
