Joshua's emotional win over Prenga in pictures

Charlotte Coates - BBC Sport journalist Sun, July 26, 2026 at 1:04 AM UTC

0

Anthony Joshua has won six of his past seven fights

Another dramatic and emotional night in Anthony Joshua's boxing career ultimately ended as just about everyone expected it would - with the countdown under way to a super-fight against Tyson Fury later in the year.

Joshua, 36, improved his record to 30-4, but he was almost on the end of one of the biggest shocks in his sport's history when he was knocked down twice by little-known Albanian Kristian Prenga inside the first round.

Advertisement

The Briton regrouped in the second round to land a flurry of hard right hands, sending Prenga crashing to the canvas and getting the win he came to Jeddah for.

BBC Sport has selected some of the best pictures from the fight, which came seven months on from the car crash in Nigeria in which Joshua was injured and two of his closest friends died.

Joshua knocked down twice as dramatic win sets up Fury fight

Bloodied Kelly battles past Agyarko to retain title

Anthony Joshua made the walk to the ring with a vast entourage supporting him

Joshua paid tribute to Sina Ghami and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele, the friends who died in the December crash, on his pre-fight outfit

Joshua was sent crashing to the canvas after an uppercut by Prenga in the opening 20 seconds of round one

Joshua smiled when being given the referee's count for the second time in round one

After gathering himself, Joshua loaded up the right hand to send Prenga tumbling to the floor

Prenga was left trying to pick himself up between the ropes after becoming Joshua's 27th beaten opponent by knockout

After the drama of round one, Joshua told everyone to calm down after he knocked Prenga out in the second round

Joshua and stablemate Oleksandr Usyk embraced after a dramatic victory for the Briton

Up on the ropes, Joshua raised his hands and soaked in the cheers from the crowd in Jeddah

Joshua looks to the skies after getting the job done

The look on Joshua's face says everything you - that was a close one -

Relive Joshua's dramatic comeback knockout win

The decade-long struggle to get AJ & Fury together

Boxing schedule and results 2026

Watch every Born to Brawl episode

More boxing from the BBC

-

Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Sports”