Anthony Joshua beats Kristian Prenga, eyes Tyson Fury fight after Nigeria crash

Anthony Joshua survived two early knockdowns to stop Kristian Prenga with a second-round knockout at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia on July 26, 2026. The 36-year-old British-Nigerian heavyweight was knocked down by a right uppercut just 20 seconds into the bout and hit the canvas again late in the first round before rallying in the second. A decisive left-hand combination capped by a big right sent Prenga crashing through the ropes at 2:43 of round two, improving Joshua's record to 30-4 with 27 knockouts.

The victory carried special resonance for Nigerians. Joshua's last fight before this bout had been a car crash in Nigeria in December 2025 that killed two of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. In the ring he choked up, dedicating his win to them and saying his comeback was fueled by their spirit.

The win sets up a long-awaited all-British showdown with former two-time champion Tyson Fury, who kept the momentum going with a seventh-round stoppage of Marius Wach in Pattaya, Thailand on Friday. Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed the Joshua-Fury contract is signed, with the bout tentatively set for November at a venue still to be announced.

For Nigerians watching, Joshua's resilience after the tragedy offers a reminder of perseverance, while the looming Fury fight promises a historic British heavyweight showdown later this year.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/07/26/anthony-joshua-overcomes-two-knockdowns-to-stop-prenga/