Anthony Joshua admitted he has been going through a difficult period emotionally after securing an impressive comeback victory against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The British-Nigerian heavyweight endured a dramatic start to the contest, suffering an early knockdown after Prenga landed a powerful uppercut in the opening moments.

Joshua was sent to the canvas once again before the first round ended, leaving many spectators wondering if the former world champion could recover.

However, Joshua showed remarkable resilience in the second round. He regained control of the fight and delivered a crushing punch that stopped Prenga at the 2:43 mark, sealing an emphatic victory and reminding fans of his fighting spirit.

Following the bout, Joshua revealed that recent personal loss had weighed heavily on him. The boxer paid tribute to his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, who recently died in a car accident in Nigeria.

Speaking after the fight, Joshua briefly acknowledged the emotional challenge, saying it had been a difficult time before becoming too emotional to continue discussing the tragedy.

Despite the emotional circumstances, Joshua also looked ahead to a possible showdown with fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury.

After learning Fury was not present at the venue, Joshua playfully referenced one of Mike Tyson’s iconic post-fight speeches before switching to a more respectful tone.

The former unified heavyweight champion stressed that while fighters must possess aggression inside the ring, mutual respect remains important.

Joshua praised Fury’s accomplishments and reiterated his desire to finally settle their long-discussed rivalry, expressing hope that fans will eventually witness the blockbuster clash they have long anticipated.