Anthony Joshua produced a dramatic comeback to defeat Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga with a second-round knockout in a thrilling bout held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The former two-time world heavyweight champion endured a difficult start after Prenga nearly stunned him in the opening round with powerful punches that threatened an early upset.

Despite the early scare, Joshua regained his composure and responded with a series of devastating right hands in the second round, forcing the referee to stop the contest.

The victory marks Joshua’s successful return to the ring following a serious car accident in Nigeria last December that claimed the lives of two of his close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele. Joshua had been recovering physically and emotionally before making his comeback.

Speaking after the fight, Joshua praised Prenga for his toughness and described the victory as proof that champions can overcome adversity.

The win also strengthens expectations for a long-awaited heavyweight showdown with British rival Tyson Fury later this year.