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’
Anthony Joshua on the ropes celebrating his win over Kristan Prenga
Joshua made his pro debut in 2013 after winning gold at the London 2012 Olympics
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.”
