Nigerian-British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has dedicated his second-round knockout victory over Kristian Prenga to his late trainers, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, who died in a car crash in Nigeria last December.
The bout marked Joshua’s first appearance since the accident that claimed the lives of Ghami, his strength and conditioning coach, and Ayodele, his personal trainer. The former world champion entered the ring wearing camouflage gear bearing their names as a tribute to their memory.
Joshua endured a difficult start to the contest, being knocked down twice by Prenga in the opening round before recovering to take control of the fight.
He stopped the Albanian heavyweight in the second round, keeping his hopes alive for a long-awaited clash with fellow Briton Tyson Fury.
Speaking after the victory, Joshua said the win represented more than just his performance in the ring, describing it as a tribute to the two men who played significant roles in his career.
“It’s what champions do. We rise, we get knocked down and we stand up and keep going. That’s life,” Joshua said.
“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.”
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Joshua, who entered the fight as the heavy favourite, showed resilience after Prenga’s early aggression appeared to put him under pressure. The 35-year-old eventually regained control, using his experience and power to secure the stoppage victory.
His promoter, Eddie Hearn, praised Joshua’s determination, saying the boxer’s ability to compete despite the emotional burden of losing his close associates was remarkable.
“No one can imagine what Anthony has been through in the last seven months. To even step into the ring was astonishing,” Hearn said.
Hearn added that Joshua had remained focused throughout his training camp while dealing with grief and described his response after being knocked down twice as a display of exceptional character.
The promoter also confirmed that contracts had been signed for Joshua’s highly anticipated heavyweight bout against Tyson Fury, although the date and venue for the all-British showdown have not yet been announced.
Fury, who defeated 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday, was absent from Joshua’s fight after returning to the Isle of Man following his own bout.
Joshua welcomed the opportunity to face Fury, saying he respected his rival’s achievements but was prepared for the challenge.
“I respect everything he has achieved, but this is the fight we’ve been calling for and now we’re here,” Joshua said. “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.”
NAN
