JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) 鈥� Former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua recovered from two knockdowns to knock out Kristian Prenga in the second round of a dramatic non-title heavyweight fight on Saturday.
Joshua was flattened by an uppercut inside 30 seconds. He beat the count but looked seriously shaken.
Then Prenga laid out Joshua again, and again Joshua rose before the end of the count and survived to the bell.
A quick end was expected but nobody thought it would be Prenga’s. Joshua unleashed a flurry of fists and finished Prenga with a right hook, sending the Albanian through the bottom of the ropes.
The turnaround shocked even heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk, whose face ringside was caught by TV cameras.
The comeback also saved possibly the biggest fight in British boxing history. Joshua and Tyson Fury have reportedly signed a contract to meet for the first time later this year, but it was on condition they came through warmup bouts this weekend.
鈥淚 hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat,鈥� Joshua told the crowd.
Fury played his part on Friday by forcing 46-year-old Polish journeyman Mariusz Wach to retire in round seven of their fight in Pattaya, Thailand.
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