Joshua Stops Prenga After Two First-Round Knockdowns
Anthony Joshua stopped Kristian Prenga by knockout at 2:43 of the second round at the Jeddah Superdome on July 25, 2026. The heavyweight bout marked Joshua’s return to competition and was promoted as “The Comeback.” Joshua recovered from two knockdowns in the first round before turning the fight around.
Prenga started aggressively and put Joshua on the canvas twice. Joshua regrouped between rounds, then landed the decisive shots in the second. Matchroom’s event listing confirms the date and opponent, while its post-fight footage describes the two knockdowns and second-round knockout. The stoppage time is also listed as 2:43.
The win gave Joshua a completed result before the later confirmation of his December meeting with Tyson Fury. The two events should be kept distinct: Prenga was the opponent in Jeddah, while Fury is scheduled for Cardiff on December 11. The July bout did not itself settle the heavyweight title picture or guarantee a specific future opponent.
Joshua’s recovery from the early knockdowns was the defining sequence of the fight. He finished the contest in the next round rather than letting it reach the judges. The official record should therefore read a second-round knockout at 2:43. Prenga entered as a dangerous opponent, but Joshua left with the win and a confirmed return to the ring.
Related reporting and sources: Anthony Joshua · Joshua · UFC · Boxing · Combat Sports
