.…Dedicates Win to Late Friends
Anthony Joshua staged a dramatic comeback on Saturday night, knocking out Albania’s Kristian Prenga in the second round of their heavyweight clash after surviving two brutal knockdowns in the opening stanza.
The Nigerian-British heavyweight boxer, dedicated his victory which was his first fight since a car crash in Ogun State, Nigeria, in December 2025 to his late friends and trainers Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, who died in the crash.
Joshua entered the ring wearing camouflage attire bearing the names of the deceased coaches in their honour.
Within the first 20 seconds, the Albanian landed a thudding uppercut and a swinging overhand right that sent Joshua to the canvas.
Though Joshua rose, he remained on unsteady legs, and Prenga quickly trapped him along the ropes, unleashing a flurry of heavy blows that forced a second knockdown before the bell ended the round.
Regrouping in his corner, Joshua emerged for the second round with renewed aggression. He established his range with a stiff jab, pushing Prenga backward, then closed the distance with a sharp one-two combination.
A straight right hand dazed Prenga, followed by unanswered hooks that sent him crashing into the corner pad.
Referee Harvey Dock administered the count, but Prenga could not rise, giving Joshua the knockout victory.
“You have to dig deep in this sport. I was caught cold in the first, but champions find a way to answer back,” Joshua said in his post-fight interview.
