Anthony Joshua produced a remarkable comeback victory on Saturday night, stopping Albania's Kristian Prenga in the second round of their heavyweight bout after being knocked down twice in a dramatic opening round.
The British-Nigerian heavyweight endured one of the toughest starts of his career when Prenga came out aggressively and floored him within the first 20 seconds of the contest. Prenga connected with a powerful uppercut and an overhand right that sent Joshua to the canvas.
Although Joshua beat the count, he was visibly shaken as Prenga pressed forward and pinned him against the ropes. A barrage of punches forced a second knockdown before the end of the opening round, leaving Joshua with a significant challenge heading into the second.
Joshua responded strongly after regrouping in his corner. He returned with greater urgency, using his jab effectively to control the distance and push Prenga onto the back foot.
The turning point came when Joshua landed a clean one-two combination, followed by a straight right hand that visibly hurt the Albanian. He then unleashed a series of hooks that sent Prenga collapsing into the corner.
Referee Harvey Dock began the count, but Prenga was unable to continue, handing Joshua a second-round knockout victory.
Speaking after the fight, Joshua acknowledged the difficult start and praised his ability to recover.
"You have to dig deep in this sport. I was caught cold in the first, but champions find a way to answer back," he said.
The victory strengthens Joshua's position in the heavyweight division and keeps alive the possibility of a high-profile showdown with Tyson Fury later this year.
