Anthony Joshua climbed off the canvas twice and marked his return to the ring with a dramatic Round 2 knockout victory over Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia, keeping a blockbuster clash with Tyson Fury alive.

Prenga landed a right hand and uppercut in the opening seconds, sending the former two‑time heavyweight champion to the floor. Anthony Joshua got up, looked unsteady, and touched the canvas a second time before the end of the first round. In Round 2 he steadied himself, jabbed, and landed two huge right hands that dropped Prenga for good.

Joshua praised Fury, saying he respects everything he has done and that they are “here now.” Fury did not appear in the ring, and no date or location for a fight has been announced. Meanwhile Fury beat Mariusz Wach in Thailand.

Seven months after a car crash that killed his close friends Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, Joshua’s sophistication and mental strength returned to the ring. Eddie Hearn emphasized that boxing was Joshua’s purpose and a way to honor the families of his fallen brothers.