Anthony Joshua survived one of the biggest crisis’ of his boxing career in boxing tonight a short time ago against Prelanga.
He got knocked down by Albanian Kristian Prenga but got back up to become victorious and possibly set up the Tyson Fury fight.
Both Joshua and Fury are clearly shot at this point it must be said though. The fact Joshua got dropped by someone like Prenga is shocking enough.
Here is what happened tonight and options next for Joshua and some notes;
- Joshua was knocked down twice in the first round, the first coming just 20 seconds in.
- Both knockdowns came from uppercuts thrown by the relatively unknown Kristian Prenga.
- Joshua looked unsteady and hurt but managed to survive the opening round.
- In the second round, Joshua regained control and knocked Prenga out with a right hook.
- The knockout sent Prenga crashing through the ropes, ending the fight immediately.
- Joshua dedicated the win to two friends who died in a car crash in Nigeria that he survived.
- The victory officially clears the way for a heavyweight unification fight with Tyson Fury.
- Contracts for the Joshua vs. Fury fight are reportedly signed and the bout is expected later this year.
- Despite the win, Joshua’s performance raised serious concerns about his chin and defensive flaws.
- Fury also looked poor in his own warm-up fight, taking seven rounds to beat a 46-year-old Mariusz Wach.
- Fury was booed by the crowd and looked sluggish, out of shape, and was caught by Wach multiple times.
- Many pundits and fans now believe both Joshua and Fury are past their prime or “shot to pieces.”
- The upcoming Battle of Britain is now seen by some as a fight between two fading legends rather than elite heavyweights.
- Joshua’s vulnerability against a small-name fighter has cast doubt on his ability to handle Fury’s size and reach.
- Fury’s poor showing has also weakened confidence in his ability to dominate Joshua as once predicted.
- Both men now face intense scrutiny ahead of what is still the biggest fight in British boxing history.
Solid victory for Joshua but shocking that he got dropped by someone like Prenga, Joshua has never been the same since the Andy Ruiz fight years ago.
All in all, Fury and Joshua might be past their best but the fight is still some bit of a spectacle that many could tune into if it happens.
They could try to make it happen soon but there is nothing stopping the fight happening at this point.
Let’s see if it actually happens though.
Both boxers are in decline, clearly, but boxing as a sport is not, it continues to return to the masses all the time.
The fight of Tyson Fury vs Joshua should have happened years ago at this point in truth, but let us see if they actually fight at all soon.
Check out our latest boxing news.