An emotional Anthony Joshua remembered his late friends as he staved off a seismic shock against Kristian Prenga to rubberstamp a fight with Tyson Fury that he says will be a “lovely treat” for fans.
Joshua knocked out Albanian heavyweight Prenga in the second round in Jeddah on Saturday night, after twice being floored himself in the first, including just 20 seconds into the contest.
The British star displayed tremendous character to battle back from the brink of defeat, a trait he has had to show in abundance since the deaths of team members Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele in a car crash in December in which he was a passenger.
Image: Joshua was sensationally knocked down by Albanian Prenga inside 20 seconds of their clash in Saudi Arabia
Speaking after overcoming Prenga, Joshua told DAZN: “It’s more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the families. It hurts to even talk about it.
“It has been tough. It’s my brothers. I don’t want to talk about it.”
Joshua: I respect everything Fury has done
Joshua was able to discuss Fury, with the British boxers now set to end over a decade of circling each other by locking horns in November, with America seemingly the most likely destination.
Fury beat Polish veteran Mariusz Wach in his own tune-up fight in Thailand on Friday.
AJ added of his countryman, who did hot head to Saudi Arabia for a face-off with his rival: “I am going to rip his heart out. I am the meanest and most vicious champion there has ever been!
Image: Joshua celebrates after his second-round KO of Prenga in Jeddah on Saturday night
“All jokes aside, I respect everything he has done and achieved but we are here now. I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat.
“I’ve learnt I can’t be stopped. I won’t be stopped and I won’t be denied. We’re here and we’re coming. Trust me.”
‘No one can imagine what Joshua has been through’
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that contracts have been signed for the blockbuster showdown before going on to praise his fighter’s “astonishing” return to the ring after the “grief and pain” he had to deal with following the car crash shortly before Christmas.
Hearn said of Joshua on DAZN: “To be honest with you, tonight is all about the strength AJ has showed to even be here tonight – and the strength in that fight.
“No one can imagine what he has been through in the last seven months. During the first round, I was thinking, ‘we came back too soon’.
Image: Joshua was floored twice in the opening round but bounced back to win and stay in course for a clash with Fury
“I feel boxing once saved him and I feel like he needed boxing to help him get through this. That camp allowed him to focus while he was facing so much grief and pain.
“He is a strong man and he likes to deal with his problems on his own – I’m not saying that is the right way but that is his way to do it. To even be in the ring tonight was astonishing.
“When you go down a couple of times in the first round and you’re looking like your career might be over, he had to go to the depths one more time to get up and fight on.”
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Anthony Joshua remains on course for a showdown with British heavyweight rival Tyson Fury later this year after recovering from being knocked down inside 20 seconds to secure a second-round knockout of Kristian Prenga in a wild clash in Jeddah.
Joshua endured a dismal first three minutes on Saturday night, hitting the canvas twice, firstly from a vicious uppercut, with the Albanian knockout specialist eyeing a seismic shock.
However, Prenga was demolished by right hands soon after in AJ’s first outing since he was a passenger in a car crash in December that killed friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
Image: Anthony Joshua was sensationally knocked down by Kristian Prenga in the opening 20 seconds
An emotional Joshua dedicated his win to his late team members, saying: “It’s more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the families. It hurts to even talk about it. It has been tough. It’s my brothers. I don’t want to talk about it.”
There was no sign of Fury as Joshua overcame a boxer in Prenga who had recorded each of his 20 victories via knockout and won his previous 16 contests since a first career defeat in February 2017.
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Dev Sahni reveals how Tyson Fury toppled Mariusz Wach in a non-TV fight in Thailand
Prenga’s stats made for strong reading and although there were no huge names on his CV he threatened a stunning result – one that could have shattered hopes of Joshua facing Fury – before the Brit registered his 30th win in 34 fights and second in a row, having beaten Jake Paul last year weeks before his car crash.
Fury contracts signed but no venue yet
After a hiccup-free weekend for Fury and Joshua coming through early adversity, a long-awaited all-British scrap looks set to happen in the autumn, with contracts already signed.
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Speaking ahead of the weekend, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn hit back at Fury’s claims he was worried about a potential bout against AJ falling through
Fears of Joshua suffering a fifth pro defeat, after two losses to Oleksandr Usyk – the same as Fury – and one each to Daniel Dubois and Andy Ruiz, were rampant after his shocking start against Prenga but his flurry of heavy blows in the second round earned him victory.
On Fury, Joshua added: “I am going to rip his heart out. I am the meanest and most vicious champion there has ever been!
“All jokes aside, I respect everything he has done and achieved but we are here now. I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat.”
Image: Anthony Joshua walks to the ring ahead of his meeting with Kristian Prenga in Jeddah
Joshua also reserved praise for Prenga, saying: “He’s a strong guy and I think Eddie [Hearn] wants to sign him now!
“He is going to do well and has a bright future. Maybe with a bit more experience, he will be up there with the rest of us.
“He is strong and durable and gave me a good test but this is what champions do, we rise. We get knocked down and stand up. That’s life.”
Watch Edgar Berlanga vs Steven Butler and Richardson Hitchins vs Ricardo Salas live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Eventfrom 10pm Sunday. Stream boxing with NOW.
