- Anthony Joshua Dedicates Comeback Victory to Friends Lost in Ogun Crash
- Joshua overcame two knockdowns before stopping Kristian Prenga in round two.
- Contracts have reportedly been signed for Joshua’s anticipated fight against Tyson Fury.
Nigerian British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has dedicated his comeback victory over Kristian Prenga to his late friends and trainers, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, who died in a car crash in Ogun State.
Joshua secured a second round knockout victory over Prenga after recovering from two knockdowns in a dramatic opening round.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the fight marked Joshua’s first appearance since the December car crash in Ogun State that claimed the lives of Ghami, his strength and conditioning coach, and Ayodele, his personal trainer.
Joshua entered the ring wearing camouflage attire bearing the names of his late coaches as a tribute to their memory.
Speaking after the fight, the former world heavyweight champion described the victory as a dedication to the two men and their families.
“It’s what champions do. We rise, we get knocked down and we stand up and keep going. That’s life.
“It was more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina and their families. It still hurts to talk about it. It’s been tough,” he said.
Joshua entered the contest as the overwhelming favourite but suffered a difficult start after Prenga knocked him down twice within the opening three minutes.
The British boxer, however, recovered quickly and took control of the contest before stopping the Albanian fighter in the second round.
The victory keeps Joshua on course for a highly anticipated all British heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, praised the boxer’s resilience and described his performance as remarkable considering the personal tragedy he had experienced in recent months.
“No one can imagine what Anthony has been through in the last seven months.
“To even step into the ring was astonishing,” Hearn said.
He added that Joshua had remained focused during his training camp while dealing with the loss of his friends and coaches.
Hearn also praised the former champion’s determination after he was knocked down twice by Prenga in the opening round.
The promoter further confirmed that contracts had been signed for the long awaited heavyweight clash between Joshua and Fury, although the date and venue for the fight have yet to be announced.
Fury defeated 46 year old Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday but did not attend Joshua’s fight, having returned to the Isle of Man after his own bout.
Joshua welcomed the prospect of finally facing Fury, saying he respected his fellow British fighter’s achievements but was ready for the challenge.
“I respect everything he has achieved, but this is the fight we’ve been calling for and now we’re here.
“I hope the fans will enjoy it.
“I’ve learned that I can’t be stopped, I won’t be denied, and we’re coming,” Joshua added.
The victory over Prenga gives Joshua renewed momentum as he prepares for what could be one of the biggest heavyweight fights in British boxing history.
