Former two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua made a successful return to the boxing ring on Saturday, stopping Kristian Prenga with a second-round knockout at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia.
The victory strengthens Joshua’s position ahead of a potential blockbuster fight against fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury later this year.
Joshua endured an early scare after being knocked down in the opening round by the previously unbeaten Albanian. However, the British boxer quickly regained his composure and took control of the contest.
The 36-year-old responded with a series of powerful combinations that left Prenga unable to continue, prompting the referee to stop the fight one minute and 52 seconds into the second round. The contest lasted just four minutes and 52 seconds.
Joshua entered the bout looking to bounce back after a lengthy spell away from the ring, while Prenga arrived with an impressive unbeaten run spanning his last 16 fights, all won by knockout.
Despite Prenga’s aggressive start, Joshua found his rhythm and showcased his trademark power to seal an emphatic comeback victory.
The convincing win is expected to accelerate talks over a long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury, one of the biggest fights boxing fans have anticipated in recent years.