Boxing World Reacts to Joshua's Dramatic Triumph Over Prenga

The night at the Jeddah Superdome began as a nightmare but ended in triumph for Anthony Joshua. In a bout billed as "The Comeback," the former two-time heavyweight world champion endured a true ordeal before stopping Albanian Christian Prenga with a knockout at 2:43 in the second round. Despite the victory, the manner in which it was achieved sparked a wave of mixed reactions among experts, boxers, and fans.

The shock in the arena came as early as the 20-second mark when a right uppercut from Prenga sent Joshua to the canvas. Shortly before the end of the first round, the Briton was knocked down for a second time. Analyst Barry Jones did not hold back his criticism, describing the first three minutes as "one of the worst rounds of AJ's career." According to Jones, Joshua appeared completely distracted and vulnerable against an opponent who had not previously faced an elite-level fighter.

Tony Bellew, former world champion and current analyst, also expressed disappointment. "He won cleanly, but the performance wasn't good. Fights like these bring you back down to earth," Bellew commented.

Carl Frampton added that Joshua should have "shifted into a higher gear" much earlier, instead of allowing Prenga to dominate at the start.

Ringside cameras captured the worried expression of Oleksandr Usyk, who watched his former rival fight for survival. Before the fight, Prenga's sparring partner, Brandon Moore, warned that the Albanian had the power to cause an upset, similar to Andy Ruiz in 2019. "He's bigger than Joshua and has a punch that can put anyone to sleep," Moore stated, and the first round almost proved him right.

Despite the tough start, Joshua (now with a record of 30-4, 27 KOs) showed championship spirit.

"That's life – you fall and you get back up. That's my motto," he declared after the fight. The Briton entered the bout weighing 251 pounds (113.8 kg), while Prenga weighed 261.4 pounds (118.5 kg).

For Joshua, this match was much more than a sporting contest. It was his first appearance in the ring since the fatal accident in Nigeria in December, which claimed the lives of his close friends Sina Gami and Latif "Lats" Ayodele.

Fans on social media were divided – while the Albanian contingent in the arena celebrated their favorite's brave performance, Joshua's supporters expressed relief that the dream clash with Tyson Fury remained on the agenda. Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that contracts have already been signed.

"I see a man who is more motivated than ever not only to destroy Prenga and Fury but also to become world champion again," Hearn stated.