Anthony Joshua delivered a moving tribute to the friends he lost while overcoming a dramatic early onslaught from Kristian Prenga, setting the stage for what he described as a "delightful spectacle" when he eventually meets Tyson Fury. The British heavyweight secured a second‑round knockout of the Albanian contender in Jeddah on Saturday night, after having been knocked to the canvas twice in the opening round, including a fall just twenty seconds after the bell. Joshua’s comeback was a testament to his resilience, a quality he has been forced to summon repeatedly since a tragic car accident in December claimed the lives of two members of his team—Sina Ghami and Latif "Latz" Ayodele—while he was a passenger.
In a post‑fight interview with DAZN, the champion reflected on the emotional weight of the loss. "It’s more than just power behind the punches," he said.
"That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the families. It hurts to even talk about it. It has been tough. They were my brothers.
I don’t want to talk about it." Despite the heavy personal burden, Joshua was able to look ahead to his long‑awaited showdown with fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury, a bout that will finally end more than a decade of mutual avoidance. The fight is expected to take place in the United States, with November earmarked as the likely month. Fury, meanwhile, sharpened his own skills with a tune‑up victory over Polish veteran Mariusz Wach in Thailand earlier in the week.
When asked about his rival, Joshua didn’t hold back. "I am going to rip his heart out.
I am the meanest and most vicious champion there has ever been!" he declared, before quickly adding a note of respect. "All jokes aside, I respect everything he has done and achieved but we are here now. I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat. I've learned I can’t be stopped.
I won’t be stopped and I won’t be denied. We’re here and we’re coming. Trust me." Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirmed that the contractual details for the blockbuster encounter have already been finalized. Hearn also praised his fighter’s astonishing return to the ring, noting the profound grief and pain Joshua endured after the crash that occurred just before Christmas.
Speaking to DAZN, Hearn said, "To be honest with you, tonight is all about the strength AJ has shown to even be here tonight – and the strength in that fight. No one can imagine what he has been through in the last seven months. During the first round, I was thinking, ‘we came back too soon.’ I feel boxing once saved him and I feel like he needed boxing to help him get through this. That camp allowed him to focus while he was facing so much grief and pain.
He is a strong man and he likes to deal with his problems on his own – I’m not saying that is the right way but that is his way to do it. To even be in the ring tonight was astonishing. When you go down a couple of times in the first round and you’re looking like your career might be over, he had to go to the depths one more time to get up and fight on." The fight against Prenga was not just a test of physical skill but also an emotional crucible. Joshua’s ability to recover from two knockdowns in the first round and then deliver a decisive knockout in the second highlighted both his technical adjustments and his mental fortitude.
Observers noted that his footwork became sharper after the early setbacks, and he began to time Prenga’s jab more effectively, slipping inside to land a powerful left hook that sent the Albanian crashing to the canvas for the final count. Beyond the immediate victory, Joshua’s performance serves as a narrative of healing. The loss of Ghami and Ayodele left a void not only in his training camp but also in his personal life.
Both men were described by Joshua as brothers, integral to his daily routine and emotional support system. Their absence forced him to confront grief in a very public arena, where every punch and every stumble was scrutinized by fans and media alike. By channeling that pain into his performance, Joshua demonstrated how athletes can transform personal tragedy into a source of motivation, turning sorrow into a catalyst for triumph. Looking ahead, the upcoming clash with Fury promises to be more than a simple title bout; it is poised to be a cultural moment for British boxing.
The two fighters have cultivated distinct personas—Joshua with his disciplined, comeback‑story aura, and Fury with his charismatic, often flamboyant style. Their meeting is expected to draw massive viewership, both domestically and internationally, and could redefine the heavyweight landscape for years to come. In the meantime, boxing fans can catch other high‑profile matchups, such as Edgar Berlanga versus Steven Butler and Richardson Hitchins versus Ricardo Salas, scheduled to air live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event from 10 p.m.
Sunday. For those seeking continuous coverage, the Toe2Toe podcast offers weekly insights, and platforms like DAZN and NOW provide streaming options for the sport’s biggest moments. Overall, Joshua’s victory in Jeddah stands as a poignant reminder that resilience, dedication, and the memory of loved ones can fuel an athlete’s journey back to the pinnacle of competition.
As he prepares for the inevitable showdown with Fury, the boxing world watches with anticipation, aware that the upcoming bout may indeed be the "lovely treat" Joshua promised—a thrilling contest forged from hardship, hope, and the relentless pursuit of greatness.