Anthony Joshua was floored twice in the first 20 seconds of his comeback fight, his dreams of a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury hanging by a thread. But the British heavyweight rose from the canvas, knocked out underdog Kristian Prenga in the second round, and finally set in motion the biggest fight in British boxing.
This is the story of how Joshua survived a career-threatening scare to rubber-stamp a clash with Fury that has been more than a decade in the making. The fight, which Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed is signed and sealed, will be the first time both men meet as professionals, settling years of debate over who is the better heavyweight.
“Why the Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight is finally happening, after Joshua's dramatic comeback win over Kristian Prenga.”
Joshua, a former two-time world heavyweight champion, was fighting for the first time since surviving a car crash in Nigeria in December that killed his close friends Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele. Walking to the ring with their names on his chest and on the canvas, he was knocked down by a right uppercut from Prenga within seconds. Later in the first round, he took a knee again. But in the second round he unleashed a barrage of heavy blows, sending Prenga crashing through the ropes. The referee halted the contest, giving Joshua his 27th career stoppage.
"It's more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the families," an emotional Joshua said afterwards, choking up and stepping away from the microphone. "It's been tough."
Fury, who had won his own warm-up fight against Mariusz Wach in Thailand 24 hours earlier, did not appear in Jeddah. But the path to a fight that has captivated British boxing fans for years is now clear.
Why it matters for UK readers
The Joshua-Fury fight is the biggest all-British heavyweight clash in history, potentially surpassing the legendary bouts of past eras. Both men have held world titles, both have enormous fan bases, and the winner could claim the title of the best heavyweight of his generation. For UK sports fans, it represents a rare moment where two domestic icons settle their rivalry in the ring.
Key questions answered
Q: When and where will the Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight take place? A: The venue and date are still unknown. Contracts have been signed, according to promoter Eddie Hearn, but no official announcement has been made regarding location or timing.
Q: How did Anthony Joshua perform in his comeback fight against Kristian Prenga? A: Joshua was knocked down twice in the first round, the first time after just 20 seconds, but recovered to knock out Prenga in the second round. It was one of the most dramatic comebacks of his career.
Q: Why is the Joshua-Fury fight happening now? A: Both fighters had scheduled warm-up bouts. Fury beat Mariusz Wach in Thailand, while Joshua overcame Prenga in Saudi Arabia. Joshua's win confirmed the fight is on, with both camps having signed the contract.
What happens next
Promoters will now finalise a venue and date for the heavyweight showdown. Saudi Arabia, where Joshua fought Prenga, is a strong candidate. The fight is expected to be one of the highest-grossing in boxing history, with millions of UK fans expected to tune in.
