Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga live results, round-by-round updates, ring walks for today's Joshua fight - Yahoo Sports

What the report says

Yahoo Sports, carrying a report from Uncrowned, said Anthony Joshua survived a chaotic return to the ring Saturday at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia, stopping Kristian Prenga in the second round of their heavyweight bout. Joshua, listed at 30-4 with 27 knockouts, was fighting seven months after a car crash that the report said killed two close friends and nearly killed him.

The bout nearly derailed immediately. Prenga, an Albanian heavyweight reported at 20-2 with 20 knockouts, dropped Joshua with a right uppercut 19 seconds into the opening round and later forced a second count when Joshua touched the canvas with his glove during another attack. After the break, Joshua responded with heavy shots, including a right hand and short left, before a final blow sent Prenga into the ropes. The referee counted him out, giving Joshua a comeback knockout.

The result matters because it keeps alive a long-discussed all-British fight between Joshua and Tyson Fury. Promoter Eddie Hearn was quoted by the report as saying the Fury bout is already under contract and tentatively targeted for later in the year, while also acknowledging that Joshua’s first-round trouble made him wonder whether the former unified champion had returned too soon.

The card also featured Hamzah Sheeraz retaining the WBO super middleweight title by majority decision over Simon Zachenhuber, and Josh Kelly defending the IBF super welterweight title by unanimous decision against Caoimhin Agyarko. Reito Tsutsumi, Oleksandr Khyzniak and Nishant Dev were among the other winners on the 13-fight event.