Former heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, survived a turbulent opening round before knocking out Kristian Prenga in the second round of their heavyweight contest.

According to BBC Sport on Saturday, Joshua endured an early scare after Prenga started aggressively and landed a series of heavy punches that sent the Briton to the canvas twice in the opening round.

The knockdowns briefly raised the prospect of a major upset, with Prenga appearing to have Joshua under serious pressure.

Joshua, however, recovered and gradually regained control of the fight, relying on his experience and power to turn the contest in his favour.

After surviving the difficult opening round, Joshua increased the pressure in the second and began landing cleaner combinations.

The 36-year-old eventually connected with a powerful right hand, with the final blow dropping the Albanian heavyweight and prompting the referee to stop the fight.

The victory marked a dramatic turnaround for Joshua after the problems he encountered in the opening minutes of the contest.

Speaking after the fight, an emotional Joshua said the victory carried deeper personal significance.

“It’s more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the family. It hurts to even talk about it. It has been tough,” Joshua said.

He became emotional and briefly stepped away from the microphone before adding, “It’s my brother. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Attention also remained on the possibility of a future fight between Joshua and fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury.

There had been speculation that Fury could make an appearance at the event, although he had earlier insisted that he would not attend.

Fury stayed away, barely 24 hours after recording his own warm-up victory over Mariusz Wach in Thailand.

Joshua, however, said he respected Fury’s achievements and welcomed the prospect of finally facing him.

“I respect everything he has done and everything that he has achieved, but as a fighting person, we’re here now. I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat,” Joshua said.

Joshua-Fury Fight Still Awaiting Date

Contracts for the long-awaited Joshua-Fury showdown have reportedly been signed, but the venue and date for the heavyweight contest have yet to be announced.

The proposed fight has been discussed for more than a decade and remains one of the most anticipated all-British heavyweight clashes.

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Spain’s World Cup-winning midfielders Fabian Ruiz and Gavi received an unusual homecoming gift on Wednesday after being rewarded with their body weight in tomatoes by their hometown of Los Palacios y Villafranca.

The pair returned to the town, located south of Seville, following Spain’s World Cup triumph in North America. Ruiz, who started the final against Argentina, and Barcelona star Gavi wore their winners’ medals as they were welcomed by local officials and hundreds of supporters during a civic reception at the town hall.

As part of a long-standing local tradition, both players stepped on to weighing scales to determine the amount of tomatoes they would receive. Ruiz will be presented with 85kg, while Gavi is set to collect 68.5kg.

Local officials said the tomato presentation “has become a hallmark of the municipality for honouring its great athletes”.

Former Spain winger Jesus Navas also attended the ceremony. Navas became the first player from Los Palacios y Villafranca to win the World Cup when Spain lifted the trophy in 2010. He and Ruiz were similarly rewarded with tomatoes after Spain won Euro 2024.

The celebrations also included further recognition for the trio. The town’s sports pavilion already bears the names of Navas and Ruiz, while football pitches will now be renamed in honour of Ruiz and Gavi.

“In addition, the town hall will promote the construction of a monument dedicated to the three champions from Los Palacios,” said a town council statement.

“In this way, the city council wants to pay permanent tribute to three athletes who represent the pride of an entire town and who, with their sporting and human trajectory, have become role models for several generations of children and young people.”

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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially accepted the joint declaration of interest submitted by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The decision follows a productive meeting between CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe and the presidents of the football federations of the three countries.

The joint bid is being spearheaded by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger seeking to stage Africa’s biggest football tournament together for the first time.Women’s Football Apparel

CAF commended the three nations for their collective ambition and commitment to strengthening regional cooperation through football, describing the initiative as a significant step towards promoting unity and development across the continent.

The acceptance of the declaration of interest marks the beginning of the bidding process, with the three countries expected to continue working with CAF to meet the requirements for hosting the 2032 AFCON.

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