Nigerian-British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has dismissed concerns about his punch resistance after recovering from two first-round knockdowns to stop Kristian Prenga and secure a dramatic comeback victory in their heavyweight contest.
The former two-time unified heavyweight world champion endured a difficult opening round after being dropped twice by Prenga, who entered the bout as the underdog in what had been viewed as a tune-up fight for Joshua ahead of a potential blockbuster clash with Tyson Fury.
Joshua, however, regained control in the second round, knocking Prenga down before forcing a stoppage to seal the win.
Speaking after the fight, Joshua rejected suggestions that the early knockdowns exposed a weakness in his ability to absorb punches.
“I got back up. That happened in the first 20 seconds of round one. I got back up, took a beating, weathered the storm and came back in round two.
“That is resistance. Resistance is spirit, durability and everything combined. Winning is not just one thing; it is a combination of many qualities.”
Joshua praised Prenga’s punching power, insisting he had expected a physically demanding contest. “I was in with someone who has knocked out 20 people. He is definitely a strong guy. He caught me with a good uppercut.
“Boxing is not pretty. I know it is going to be tough because I fight strong, heavy-handed opponents who come to win.”
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The 2012 Olympic gold medallist argued that questions over his durability would only have been warranted had he failed to recover from the early setbacks.
“He hit me with a good shot. So what? I got up, kept going until it was my turn, and I came out on top. You should be asking him about his punch resistance, not me. I am the one sitting here victorious.”
The victory marks an important response for Joshua as he continues his bid to return to world title contention following an inconsistent run in recent years.
His ability to recover from adversity is likely to boost confidence within his camp, although the performance may also prompt renewed scrutiny of his defensive vulnerabilities against elite opponents.
Attention is now expected to shift to a proposed all-British heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury, who also recorded a victory over Mariusz Wach during the weekend.
Negotiations for the long-awaited contest are expected to continue, with a potential November meeting widely anticipated by boxing fans.
If finalized, the bout would rank among the biggest fights in British boxing history, pitting two of the sport’s most recognizable heavyweights against each other in a contest that has been years in the making.
Joshua will hope the resilience he displayed against Prenga can carry into what could be one of the defining fights of his career.
