Anthony Joshua win im first fight afta accident wey kill im friends for Nigeria

Anthony Joshua suffer two knockdowns - di first happun afta just 20 seconds wen di fight start - bifor e recoveri to dramatically stop Kristian Prenga for di second round of im comeback fight for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Di British heavyweight dey fight for di first time since e survive di December car crash for Nigeria wey claim di lives of im close friends Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele.

Underdog Prenuga bin first give am one hot very big uppercut for di opening round, and e hit di canvas again later for di round.

At dat point, e be like film trick and wetin be like one of di biggest shock defeats for di heavyweight history, as di long-awaited Tyson Fury fight dey hang by a thread.

But Joshua produce one of di greatest escapes of im career, and now di fight dey on.

E bounce back, unleash im right hand for di second round, as di final shot send Albanian Prenga crashing down and force di referee to pause di contest.

"E dey more dan di punch power. Dat na di spirit, dat na Latz, dat na Sina, dat na di families. E hurt to even tok about am. E dey tough," 36-year-old Joshua, tok.

E choke small and e step away from di microphone, bifor e add: "Dem be my brothers. I no wan tok about am."

Speculation bin dey say fellow boxer, Briton Fury fit make appearance even though e don tok say im no go attend.

But di master of mind games bin stay true to im word, as Fury no show face barely 24 hours away from im own warm-up win ova Mariusz Wach for Thailand.

"I respect evritin wey e don do and evritin wey e don achieve, but as pesin wey dey fight, we dey hia now. I hope say fans go dey in for a lovely treat," Joshua tok about di prospect of fighting Fury.

Dem don sign di ontracts, but du venue and date for di fight neva dey clear.

Dis chaotic night, however, belong to Joshua for victory e forge through pain during di most difficult months of im life.

Down but not out for AJ on emotional return

Given the circumstances, this was never going to be a straightforward return for Joshua. Few, however, could have predicted the drama that unfolded inside six minutes.

Joshua carried the names of Ghami and Ayodele on his chest and walked to the ring alongside his entire team in a quiet show of unity. The canvas carried their names too, alongside the words 'My Brother's Keeper'.

His comeback could scarcely have begun in any worse fashion. Just 20 seconds in, a right uppercut from Prenga sent Joshua crashing to the canvas and stunned the arena.

Joshua smiled as he climbed to his feet. Prenga, who arrived with 20 knockouts from his 20 victories but little profile even with boxing's hardcore followers, sensed an opportunity.

Promoter Eddie Hearn barked instructions from ringside, while Joshua stablemate Oleksandr Usyk watched on with a look of concern.

A left uppercut later in the round dumped Joshua on the canvas again. He was still unsteady at the start of the second round and appeared to be there for the taking, but Prenga surprisingly began to box off the back foot and let the Watford fighter off the hook.

Joshua capitalised and using his years of experience - and perhaps the emotion - he drew Prenga on to a jab before uncorking a crushing right hand. More rights followed as Prenga collapsed to the canvas and the referee had seen enough.

This was 35-year-old Prenga's second loss in his career.

It was Joshua's first test against a recognised professional opponent since Daniel Dubois stopped him in September 2024.

His only fight since had come against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December, 10 days before the fatal crash that left him injured.

Joshua passed the Prenga test, but not in the manner anyone expected. It was not the destructive, free-flowing champion who once swept opponents aside.

'Tonight wasn't about Tyson Fury'

After defeating 46-year-old Wach in Pattaya, the question of whether Fury would show up to watch Joshua became a subplot of fight night.

A Fury lookalike briefly fooled reporters when he stepped out of a taxi, while Fury's manager Spencer Brown insisted the 'Gypsy King' would be "there in spirit".

The fight between two of the most recognisable names in British boxing is understood to have been agreed for November.

Neither man is at the peak of his powers, but while the commercial appeal remains strong, Joshua's struggles are likely to leave Fury a clear favourite.

The bout is expected to stream on Netflix. British fans are hoping for a homecoming event, but it is understood Saudi organisers and broadcasters favour a venue in the United States to cater for American audiences.

"We've signed the contract. Everything is done," Hearn said.

"But tonight wasn't about Tyson Fury. It was about the strength Anthony Joshua has shown just to be here.

"No-one knows what he's been through over the last seven months. When he went down in the first round, I thought he'd come back too soon."