It's time to ask the tough questions: does Anthony Joshua still possess the granite chin that made him a global superstar? The doubts began to creep in during his recent bout against Kristian Prenga, where the Albanian landed two crushing blows in the first round to leave the Brit reeling. The £150m showdown with Tyson Fury is now just around the corner, but concerns over Joshua's durability are growing louder by the day.
The alarm bells rang out just 20 seconds into the fray when a thunderous right hand from Prenga sent Joshua stumbling backwards, setting him up for a devastating uppercut. It was clear he'd taken a serious blow – one that would have floored any lesser man – and his legs were visibly wobbly as he struggled to regain his footing. But then came another jolting right cross, and the unthinkable happened: Joshua went down for the count – again!
The fight was turned on its head in a flash, and Joshua's courage and resilience were put to the ultimate test. He'd been floored twice before, but still he refused to back down. In fact, he seemed to draw strength from his struggles, summoning up an inner spirit that would have made even the great Muhammad Ali proud. When asked about his performance, Joshua paid tribute to his fallen friends Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, saying: “It's more than punch power. That was spirit. That was Latz, that was Sina, that was their families.” It was a poignant moment, but one that only served to highlight the concerns over Joshua's readiness for Fury.
The dramatic shift in momentum between rounds has left many scratching their heads. After nearly being stopped in the first, Joshua came out guns blazing in the second, pinning Prenga in a corner and unleashing a barrage of combinations that ended with a crushing right hand – one that sent the Albanian crashing to the canvas for good.
But what does this mean for Tyson Fury? His performance against Mariusz Wach was equally underwhelming, albeit for different reasons. A seven-round victory may have been expected, but Fury's display lacked the fire and dominance we've come to expect from a fighter of his calibre – and one preparing for a bout as massive as this.