Joshua Knocked Down Twice Before Stopping Prenga in Round Two

Anthony Joshua was knocked down twice in round one but recovered to stop Kristian Prenga in round two, raising doubts about his chin ahead of a £150m fight with Tyson Fury.

Anthony Joshua hit the canvas twice in the first round against relatively unknown Albanian fighter Kristian Prenga — a result that immediately intensified scrutiny of his ability to absorb punishment at the highest level. Joshua did recover to finish Prenga in the second round, but the knockdowns overshadowed the stoppage win and left observers questioning his durability. The fight was billed as a low-risk tune-up, part of a weekend in which both Joshua and Tyson Fury returned to the ring against modest opposition ahead of their long-anticipated showdown. Fury's own performance was described as uninspiring, though he emerged unscathed. The two bouts were widely seen as final preparation steps before a blockbuster clash between Joshua and Fury that has been reported to be worth around £150m (approximately $100m). That fight has been in the making for years and is now being positioned as closer to reality following both men's respective appearances this weekend. Joshua's vulnerability to being knocked down is not new — he has previously been stopped by Andy Ruiz Jr. and has faced questions about his chin throughout his career. The Prenga performance added fresh evidence to that concern just as the stakes are at their highest.

Why it matters

A Joshua-Fury fight would be one of the biggest heavyweight bouts in British boxing history, worth an estimated £150m, and Joshua's demonstrated punch resistance problems could significantly affect both the matchmaking calculus and his chances in that fight.

What's next

The Joshua-Fury mega-fight, reportedly worth around £150m, is now the primary focus, with both men having completed their warm-up bouts.

Key facts

• Joshua was knocked down twice in round one by Kristian Prenga
• Joshua stopped Prenga in round two despite the early knockdowns
• Prenga is an Albanian heavyweight described as a low-risk opponent
• The Joshua-Fury fight is reported to be worth £150m (approximately $100m)
• Tyson Fury also fought this weekend and was described as uninspiring
• Joshua has previously been stopped in his career, making punch resistance an ongoing concern

Bias & framing notes

All three sources are from The Guardian, meaning there is no independent corroboration from separate outlets. Within those pieces, the framing shifts notably: one report is a straight news account of the result, while the other two lean into analytical concern about Joshua's chin and the underwhelming quality of both fighters' performances — a framing that emphasizes risk and doubt heading into the Fury fight.

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