Former two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua made a successful return to the ring on Saturday, defeating Kristian Prenga by second-round technical knockout at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia.

The victory strengthens Joshua’s prospects of securing a long-awaited blockbuster all-British heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury later this year.

Joshua overcame an early scare after being knocked down in the opening round as Prenga launched an aggressive start. However, the British boxer quickly regained his composure, taking control of the contest with a series of powerful combinations.

The referee stopped the fight 1 minute and 52 seconds into the second round, handing Joshua a convincing comeback victory after just 4 minutes and 52 seconds of action.

The bout marked Joshua’s return following an extended spell out of the ring, while Prenga entered the contest unbeaten in his previous 16 fights and carrying a 100 per cent knockout record during that run.

Despite the Albanian’s early success, Joshua’s superior power and experience proved decisive as he overwhelmed his opponent to secure the stoppage.

The win is expected to accelerate discussions over a potential clash with fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury, with promoters likely to revive negotiations for one of boxing’s most anticipated matchups following Joshua’s impressive comeback performance.