Joshua wins first fight since fatal Nigeria crash despite knockdowns

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that Anthony Joshua won his comeback bout in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 26 July 2026, stopping Kristian Prenga in the second round after surviving two first-round knockdowns. Joshua was floored after about 20 seconds by an uppercut and went down again later in the opening round, leaving the British heavyweight at risk of a major upset before he rallied with a right-hand assault that prompted the referee to end the contest.

The fight was Joshua’s first since a December car crash in Nigeria in which, according to the BBC, he survived but his close friends Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele died. The report said Joshua entered with their names displayed on his chest, and the ring canvas also referenced them. After the victory, Joshua became emotional while speaking about the loss and the families affected.

Prenga, a 35-year-old Albanian heavyweight, arrived with 20 knockouts among 20 wins but far less international profile than Joshua. The result gave Joshua a 30-4 professional record and a 27th stoppage victory, while Prenga suffered the second defeat of his career. The BBC noted it was Joshua’s first recognised professional test since Daniel Dubois stopped him in September 2024, with his only intervening fight coming against Jake Paul shortly before the crash.

The win keeps alive a long-discussed all-British fight with Tyson Fury. The BBC reported that contracts have been signed, though the venue and date remain unresolved, and promoter Eddie Hearn said the night was chiefly about Joshua’s resilience rather than Fury.