By Our Correspondent
Nigerian-British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua dedicated his impressive comeback victory over Albanian boxer Kristian Prenga to the memory of his late friends and trainers, Sina Ghami and Latif "Latz" Ayodele, who died in a tragic road accident in Ogun State last December.
Joshua produced a spirited performance, overcoming two first-round knockdowns before stopping Prenga with a second-round knockout in a fight that marked his first appearance in the ring since the devastating loss.
In an emotional tribute, the former two-time world heavyweight champion entered the arena wearing camouflage attire emblazoned with the names of Ghami, his strength and conditioning coach, and Ayodele, his personal trainer.
Speaking after the victory, Joshua said the win was inspired by the memories of his late friends.
"It's what champions do. We rise, we get knocked down and we stand up and keep going. That's life," he 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."
Despite entering the contest as the overwhelming favourite, Joshua endured a difficult opening round after Prenga sent him to the canvas twice within the first three minutes. The British-Nigerian fighter, however, responded with remarkable determination, regaining control of the fight before securing a decisive knockout in the second round.
The victory keeps Joshua on course for a long-awaited heavyweight showdown with fellow Briton Tyson Fury.
Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, praised the former champion's courage and resilience, noting that competing so soon after such a personal tragedy was an extraordinary achievement.
"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 channelled his grief into his training camp and displayed exceptional mental strength by recovering from two knockdowns to claim victory.
Hearn also confirmed that contracts have been signed for the much-anticipated heavyweight clash between Joshua and Fury, although the date and venue for the bout are yet to be announced.
Fury, who defeated 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday, was absent from Joshua's fight, having returned to the Isle of Man after his own contest.
Reflecting on his comeback, Joshua expressed confidence in his future, declaring: "I've learned that I can't be stopped, I won't be denied, and we're coming."
(NAN)
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