Anthony Joshua almost suffered one of the vital stunning upsets in historical past after Christian Prengga scored two knockdowns in opposition to the previous heavyweight champion within the opening spherical.
However simply when it appeared like Joshua was doomed to fail and his long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury was going to disintegrate once more, the British slugger recovered and emerged with a bombshell within the second spherical. As Prengga pale, Joshua unleashed a brutal proper hand that despatched his opponent crashing to the canvas and thru the underside rope.
It did not take lengthy for the referee to cease the struggle, with the second spherical ending at 2 minutes and 43 seconds.
“It was extra about me that lifted me up,” Joshua mentioned of his spectacular opener. “It could actually’t be simply me. The next energy is looking.”
Whereas celebrating his victory, Joshua shortly turned his consideration to Fury, with promoter Eddie Hearn saying the extremely anticipated bout was already signed for later this 12 months.
“Is Tyson Fury really within the room?” Joshua exclaimed. “Extra importantly, I’ll rip his coronary heart out. I am the meanest, most vicious champion ever. Nobody can cease me. Alexander? No, he is not Alexander. He isn’t Alexander.”
“I respect every thing he is executed and every thing he is completed, however as a fighter who’s been asking for this struggle for a very long time…I feel his followers are trying ahead to it.”
As a result of approach Saturday’s struggle began, Joshua needed to first separate himself from the group earlier than heading over to Fury.
In a surprising flip of occasions, Pulenga delivered an uppercut that despatched Joshua flying and sending him crashing to the canvas. Joshua managed to face up, clearly shocked by what had simply occurred.
Prengga continued to assault, swinging his hammer in an try and take Joshua down once more. It was attainable that Joshua was coping with some sort of leg harm after the knock, as he appeared unsteady at any time when he was standing.
Pulenga hit Joshua once more with a brutal proper hand that stumbled and knocked the previous heavyweight champion down once more.
One other wild trade ended his opening spherical as Joshua smiled at his opponent earlier than returning to his nook.
Because the second spherical started, Joshua threw aggressive mixtures and Prengga seemed to be dropping momentum. Joshua compelled Prengga into the nook and landed a number of arduous punches as Prengga was compelled to defend.
Realizing that Prenga was nonetheless damage, Joshua went after him with all his would possibly, however landed an outsized shot on the Albanian heavyweight that knocked him down, and Prenga really fell to the underside rope. The second Prengga hit the canvas it was clear he was completed, however the referee gave him time to attempt to recuperate.
Shortly after, the struggle was stopped as Joshua celebrated his comeback victory after being knocked to the bottom twice within the opening spherical.
With this win, Joshua stands for one of many greatest boxing matches of the 12 months, with all indicators pointing to a showdown with Fury earlier than 2026 is over. There are nonetheless some particulars to iron out, corresponding to the placement of the struggle, however it seems to be like Joshua vs. Fury will lastly happen.
