The two-time former unified heavyweight champion insisted he's fighting through pain for close friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, plotting an unlikely route back to world glory.

He said he summoned the strength of his fallen brothers, climbing off the canvas and enduring a crazy two-round shootout with Albania's Kristian Prenga (20-2, 20 KOs) tonight. Then, he doubled down on a desire to finally make the much-anticipated Fury mega fight official after contrasting victories 30 hours apart this weekend.

Relive the action across an eventful card at the Jeddah Superdome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia featuring two world championship defenses for British beltholders.

Elsewhere tonight, you can follow along with our coverage as former unified welterweight champion Errol Spence ends a three-year layoff against Tim Tszyu in Australia as a middleweight crossroads clash presents jeopardy, again on DAZN PPV to end a busy night of boxing.

It felt like a fever dream. The DAZN broadcast had an isolated Oleksandr Usyk reaction camera and the Ukrainian champion couldn't believe what he was watching. Eddie Hearn was heard shouting 'hold him' and looked frozen.

One of the worst rounds of his career was the commentator's declaration as Joshua smiled and had water splashed on him trudging back to the corner after hearing the bell sound.

His legs were still all over the place after four minutes, before eventually, he began to set his feet and throw combinations. Prenga reverted to type, unsure of how to capitalise on his stunning lead and soon enough a dramatic comeback was complete.

Fury would claim to have carried Mariusz Wach for a few rounds, perhaps for the Netflix cameras on Friday night in Thailand.

Joshua's vulnerability makes him an exciting, unpredictable watch — no matter what you think — yet this weekend has made it painfully clear both former champions are faded versions of their elite prime years.

When suffering so much cumulative damage in the sport's glamour division, how could they not be? United in their decline, they must finally fight next then both call it a day. There's no shame in that.

I need to decompress from that with a long walk and some water before Errol Spence-Tim Tszyu gets underway but until next time, thanks for joining me and have a good night! Watch the finishing sequence in slo mo below:

Joshua's career-long promoter Eddie Hearn senses his charge is (understandably) overly emotional and takes the moment to speak on his behalf about what led to this moment.

"We've signed the contract [to fight Fury], everything is done, but tonight is all about the strength he showed to even be here. He had to show strength in that fight, no-one can imagine what he's been through. During that first round I'm thinking we've come back too soon ... seriously.

"I feel like boxing once saved him, he needed boxing to get through this, that camp allowed him to focus his mind while facing so much grief and pain. You don't know what he was going through, he likes to deal with problems on his own - that's his way - to even be in the ring tonight was astonishing.

"When you go down a couple times in the first round and it's looking like your career might be over, he had to go to the depths one more time to get up and fight on, like always. It's hard for the team, imagine what it's like for him."

"To more important matters, where's Tyson Fury... is he here or not? I'm a rip his heart out, he's no Alexander ... all jokes aside, there's two sides of this ... one is fire: you have to have that vim, but also that respect. I respect everything he's done but as someone who's been calling for this fight a long time, we're here now. I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat."

"He's a strong guy y'know, I think Eddie Hearn wants to sign him now. He's going to do well, got a bright future, I'm a serious fighter who knows what they're doing around the ring ... maybe with a little more experience he'll be up there with the rest of us, he's strong and durable, gave me a serious test. This is what champions do, we rise, stand up and keep going. That's life's motto."

On the knockout finish: "It's more than just punch power. It was spirit, Latz and Sina, their families, you know what I mean? It hurts even to talk about it ... it's been tough. My brothers, I don't want to talk about it."

2:43 of round two is the official time, as the Brit heads to Prenga's corner and shares a warm embrace with the Albanian's team. We'll hear from him in a few moments. Scarily close to one of the sport's most shocking upsets in recent history. It happened so quickly, I need to watch that back again. But first, Joshua with DAZN's Ade Oladipo.

Joshua doesn't look steady on his feet yet as he clutches his left thigh in the early seconds, though fires back assertively with straight shots pinning the Albanian back. What a dramatic five minutes so far... Prenga being backed up here... Joshua jabs, then hits a howitzer of a right hand! He's not getting up from that, it's all over!

He gestures for the crowd to calm down as he celebrates, smiling on the top rope. Joshua's former foe-turned-teammate Oleksandr Usyk looks like the most relieved man ringside, Team Usyk — now part of his ecosystem all embrace him. This sport.

PRENGA KNOCKS HIM AGAINST THE ROPES! Prenga bundles the Brit to the floor, the official signals no knockdown ... but the Albanian baits him into an exchange at close-range ... Joshua gets counted for a knockdown after he touches the canvas! Just like against Daniel Dubois, he rushes off the canvas too quickly and has to hold, smother and recover. Remarkable start.

Joshua listens closely with Sergey Lapin in his ear giving a few final words, referee Luis Pabon brings them centre ring briefly and the heavyweight main event is just moments away now.

First the host nation, Saudi Arabia, followed by Albania and the United Kingdom. Emblazoned across Joshua's military camo fight kit jacket is a tribute to his two close friends, as well as one on the ring canvas shown below:

At long last, the main event is almost upon us. Prenga is already in the ring, all eyes (and phone cameras) fixated on the two-time unified heavyweight world champion's return.

Sheeraz confirms there was no hand injury and hints at some behind-the-scenes issues, but doesn't divulge them.

"Listen, I got the win and that's all that matters. Could make a million excuses, I'm sure everyone's chomping at the bit now. I need to step up now, [face] someone who mentally is going to present a challenge. I was switching off at times, when you ain't got a threat in-front of you ... I knew it wasn't good but didn't think it was that bad [to warrant a drawn scorecard]. I needed a quick turnaround and them 12 rounds, onto bigger and better things.

"I want to face the champions ... there's a good fighter in Jacob Bank as well who deserves his shot, Spencer [Brown] is both our manager so I'm sure it's an easy fight to make next."

Goldstar Promotions chief Brown is among those in the ring and uses his mic time to praise challenger Zachenhuber's durability, declaring him as fit 'as a butcher's dog' before likening Sheeraz-Bank to our modern-day version of Joe Calzaghe-Mikel Kessler for the Ring and unified super middleweight titles in November 2007.

He then insists while a welcome outing for Tyson Fury in Thailand last night, "The Gypsy King" will not show up tonight. Mind games before the big one...? Speaking of, a certain someone is making waves backstage right now:

114-114, 115-113, 116-112 ... and STILL! Sheeraz wins via majority decision, retaining his WBO 168-pound title. An anticlimactic maiden championship defense, he's about to speak now...

A cacophony of whistles, some boo birds and the rest as Sheeraz and Zachenhuber combine for another frustrating stanza. Zachenhuber wasn't expected to go the distance, so this is a moral victory if nothing else, but not a night the champion will look back with any fond memories. Disappointing.

Sheeraz lands an uppercut midway through the round, his corner urge him to follow it up with more but yet again, he reverts to type and doesn't accelerate. One frame left now, mercifully.

Commentators are openly questioning Sheeraz's condition, again hinting at a right hand injury or potentially this flat performance being the result of overtraining with consecutive fight camps in quick succession.

The southpaw stance wouldn't have given him any favors early but there was enough there for Zachenhuber

Lee tells his charge the German is merely there to survive now, he knows but ... isn't committing to his attacks. Very one-paced.

Sheeraz can't help but smile after heading back into the corner, asking what round they're heading into. The tenth stanza is next and the champion has continued connecting with intermittent uppercuts, though lacking urgency to really chain together another highlight reel knockout like we've grown accustomed to in recent years. Frustrating.

Another round down, the pair exchange body punches in the final seconds of another frame that didn't ignite. Sheeraz is being tagged increasingly with pawing jabs and looping shots, though doesn't seem bothered enough to change his defensive style here.

Sheeraz hasn't done much in this frame, unfortunately, to report on. Walking forward with a high guard and intermittently connecting, this lack of urgency is merely spurring the German into more output. The crowd atmosphere was electric half-an-hour ago, not so much now, and this isn't a great watch.

Andy Lee tells Sheeraz he believes the challenger probably 'has one more' round left in him, acknowledging he's pushed a big pace in the previous frame and the subtle body punching will have done its trick.

Commentators wonder whether the champion has hurt his right hand, given he's not using it often, but he's comfortably ahead and not bothered by the punches coming back at him.

Sheeraz whips a series of body shots, walking down the German, connects on a sneaky uppercut and increasingly Zachenhuber can't keep the 27-year-old off him as front-foot pressure continues. Needs to chain together some punches now though!

At risk of sounding like a broken record, Sheeraz is uncomfortably content to grind this outing out. Zachenhuber doesn't have much in the way of intensity, nor urgency, and this is an uninspiring watch.

Sheeraz lands the fight's best punch, digging down to the body ... but Zachenhuber does well to fire back and continues shooting out jabs to the Brit's chest. Slowly but surely, the champion is finding a rhythm as he walks forward, waiting to set up a fight-altering punch.

Sheeraz digs downstairs early in the second stanza and it grabs the challenger's attention, attempting to box-and-move behind his long levers. "You're the man, give him no encouragement," is the comment between rounds from Sheeraz's head trainer Andy Lee, aware that body shots will quickly deter the German's forward advances.

A feel out round without much in the way of noteworthy action banked for Sheeraz, though Zachenhuber is busier and appears determined to gain the champion's respect with a tight guard.

Two more fights left in Jeddah tonight and this one is the second world title clash, as Hamzah Sheeraz makes the first defense of his WBO super middleweight crown against Simon Zachenhuber. Ring walks have concluded, the opening frame is just moments away now...

"I'm here, a world champion and bounced back.

I told him don't take that as a loss, take that as learning [lesson] .. he learned a lot tonight, gotta come back, bounce back the same way I did, prove he gets back to where he wants to be."

Agyarko felt he did enough, but is now motivated to come back stronger from a career-first defeat.

"Thought it was close going into the fifth and sixth, took over in the second-half but no excuses, wasn't good enough. I lost, well done to Josh, tricky and awkward, not good enough for the judges. No complaints, rebuild.

"Heartbrokeen I could've made history here, Adam Booth said they underestimated me, I'm only 29 and tougher than they thought I was going to be, not the result I wanted but great experience, I'll come again."

Kelly looks almost horrified as he sees his face on the big screen, deep cut on the nose that will almost certainly need an operation to fix. Unlikely the Sunderland man returns again this year, even if we are only in July.

"A messy, hard fight ... you don't get cuts like these from punches, it's heads and elbows. I knew he would be tricky, a stand-off, awkward fighter with a good gameplan to make it a boxing match and fight in spurts. I had to show a different side of me and that's what a champion does, winning in the end.

"People will be smiling look at that, it's a tricky night for anyone [fighting Agyarko], diving, heads, elbows in a rough fight. I want the big names, already took one out in Bakhram Murtazaliev, let me get the other ones."

Now, we await the judges' scorecards... 114-113, 115-112, 115-112... AND STILL! Kelly (19-1-1, 9 KOs) was badly cut, lacked discipline and that presented Agyarko (18-1, 7 KOs) with an opportunity to press ahead in the second-half.

Agyarko will be wishing he stepped on the accelerator a round or two earlier... both men celebrate at the final bell, Kelly looking worse for wear and unhappy after absorbing a flurry of punches at close-range when the referee didn't break them quickly enough. It's been that sort of nip-and-tuck, grueling championship battle.

Ooof! Kelly's face is a crimson mask right now and he's having to dig deep, Team Agyarko baying their man on after another stop-start stanza where he's faring well but equally getting countered and absorbing the cleaner punches.

The champion has a cut nose (as well as the aforementioned two) which is worsening and well, Agyarko pings him with another shot he'll be feeling for days after this one. Final round time...

Booth alerts the referee to elbow hits (accidental or not) from Agyarko, which have lit a fuse within Kelly as he ups the tempo in the first half of another attritional frame. Agyarko presses ahead, whips a left hand and hooks before they're separated. Two rounds left and this remains up for the grabs!

Agyarko angling well and jabbing low, disrupting the champion's rhythm before another weird sequence where Kelly's frustration is spilling over. He punches low, there's a brief pause and Agyarko jabs well after the break.

Kelly connecting on the cleaner work, Agyarko displaying more resistance though and keeping him honest as another round comes to an end.

Kelly's demeanour has darkened, he looks increasingly annoyed and is missing with his forward advances ... Agyarko bouncing, he's right in this fight now. Kelly almost convincing himself that he won the round in his corner, as they ignore him and instead focus on the pair of cuts below either eye. Nervy stuff through eight all of a sudden.

"I said don't scuff with him on the inside, he shouldn't be anywhere near you. Forget about everything that happened in that round, get your head in the game and keep your discipline," trainer Adam Booth tells Kelly, who acknowledges he feels frustrated.

As they enter the second-half, now there's some jeopardy involved... Agyarko committing more to attacks and he'll feel enthused about a change in the tide of this contest.

Kelly again gets lectured by the official, a minute into the sixth, after some dirty boxing. Replays showed a clash of heads caused the cut, though Agyarko needs to push him back and chain together more combination punching — easier said than done against a slick champion — though there's some contention now!

Kelly is deducted a point after another illegal punch and can't complain after two previous warnings, one Agyarko finishes stronger.

Kelly starts the fifth frame with a series of combinations, pinning Agyarko back up against the ropes and having to endure a furious flurry of punches. Kelly is then ticked off for a punch behind the head, and the champion looks up longingly with a cut below his left eye as he encourages the Irishman forward. Another competitive stanza.

Agyarko pushes the pace in the first minute of round four, Kelly looks sharp behind his right hand and is briefly pushed back by a stab jab downstairs. They exchange hooks in the final half-minute of another nip-and-tuck round, Agyarko not throwing enough to draw the champion into a firefight ... but more positive there.

A better round from Agyarko, but Kelly feels comfortable enough to showboat in centre ring after connecting cleanly on a two-punch combination. He's in a groove and while it might not be much, he's banking these rounds.

"He's getting uncomfortable with the pace of it," says Kelly's trainer Adam Booth as his charge acknowledges so.

Agyarko is biting on feints, Kelly pings him with two jabs and stabs to the body before using distance to his advantage, taking a step out of range before jabbing forward when he feels it's the right time to push the challenger backwards. A quick punch flurry connects in the final seconds, enough to assert Kelly's subtle lead.

A tense start, Agyarko happy to tie up and both exchange stiff jabs at centre ring. Not much happening yet, though plenty of feinting and jostling for position in a physical affair thus far.

Here we go then... the fighters are in the ring, introductions underway and we're just minutes away from the first bell.

Agyarko looking to become the first Black Irish world champion, while Kelly seeks to build on a legacy-enhancing Bakhram Murtazaliev upset with big-money matchups awaiting tonight's victor.

Elsewhere, the big man is here! Have a look at Joshua's arrival at the venue a few minutes ago:

Just like that, we're onto our first of two world title fights tonight. Reito isn't getting paid for overtime and after Bank went the eight-round distance, we appreciate an early finish!

IBF junior middleweight champion Josh Kelly (18-1-1, 9 KOs) makes his first title defense against Caoimhin Agyarko (18-0, 7 KOs), knowing a three-belt unification against Jaron Boots awaits next with victory.

With an official time of 28 seconds, the Tokyo talent begins his 2026 campaign in a big way by adding a fourth consecutive stoppage victory. Time for more resistance and another step-up, considering Herrera entered this contest with a flashy unbeaten record but hadn't fought anyone of note. Exciting times for the 23-year-old.

A pair of left hands do the trick and 25 seconds into the second frame, it's all over! Reito Tsutsumi blasts past Alvino Herrera, and didn't even break a sweat doing so.

Woof. Reito Tsutsumi's speed is overwhelming, the punch placement devastating and Herrera looks like he's drowning already. A pair of knockdowns in the final minute almost see their contest waved off, not helped by Herrera frantically trying to climb off the canvas ... rather than taking the official's count and being patient.

The junior lightweight prospect was seen backstage working on combinations and getting warmed up with trainer Ismael Salas as well as older brother Hayato, who returned from injury to deliver a second-round knockout of Felix Batista a fortnight ago. After an excellent debut year, the 23-year-old (4-0, 3 KOs) gets an upgrade to the 10-round distance against Mexico's Alvino Herrera (18-0-2, 11 KOs).

Bank looks a little frustrated he didn't get the stoppage, though concedes it was his first outing outside Denmark and attributed to a slow - by his standards - start in the first three rounds.

"My opponent was undefeated, I did what Canelo couldn't do by knocking out [William] Scull in the 12th round."

On how far away he is from a world title fight next, as the WBO and WBC's No. 2-rated super middleweight contender:

"It's not up to me anymore, it's my time to have the world title chance and I'm waiting for it now. I beat August, he beat the guy Hamzah is fighting so let's see what happens after."

He says he'll be back ringside to watch Sheeraz-Simon Zachenhuber, taking place in roughly two hours' time.

80-72 scores across the board for The Ring's No. 8 super middleweight Jacob Bank, let's hear from him now...

Final frame and Bank is flirting with a late stoppage here ... continues pinging August's head back with straight shots, then a body shot and some slick counterpunching off the ropes.

He can afford to look at manager Spencer Brown, as if to say are you seeing this? He connects on two big right hands, though the 31-year-old holds firm under duress as the final bell sounds. August didn't stop trying, which is a credit to the unbeaten boxer, though he was simply outclassed against a smooth operator on this occasion.

Two more rounds to go and Bank is back to his purposeful ways, planting his feet, edging closer and digging punches to head and body once more. Boxing beautifully, August lands a stray right hand but little else.

"If you don't let your hands go, you'll never know," is the cry from Pawel August's head coach Dean Lewis as they head into the sixth, think that says all you need to know. Bank is lectured by the referee about pushing off in exchanges and he replies by bobbing and weaving his way forward, crunching uppercuts and body shots.

August has slowed, both in output and pressure, Bank is having his way with him now! Lands a pair of single shots, then an uppercut, one-two, stray left hand to finish the stanza. The Brit will do well to hear the final bell here.

The pair exchange shots at close and mid-range, Bank connects on a two, then three-punch combination as he physically shrugs August off him in the clinch, then gets his offense off. Too slow to exit out, he gets tagged before landing a few single uppercuts to end another commanding frame.

Bank has landed 31 of his 70 power punches (44%) through three rounds, compared to 13 of 37 for August (35%).

This war of attrition continues and will see the second-half, after a more promising half-minute from the Brit with Bank punished for having those hands low.

August is read the riot act in the corner between rounds, being urged to quicken his feet up and make Bank work more than he has been doing ... otherwise he won't be able to tire him out and land his best shots.

Bank's attacks are consistently finding a home for their intended target and while August isn't disguising his entries, that front-foot approach is a double-edged sword: Bank damaging him steadily but absorbing some punishment in equal measure.

August lands a nice body shot, Bank pings him in response with a beautiful jab ... this round has quickly intensified, barely a minute in. August is marked up below his left eye, Bank keeping his hands low and the 25-year-old is in his flow state now.

August's aggressive start is refreshing to see! The Taunton resident isn't giving Bank much of a chance to breathe, pressing forward though the Dane is happily piercing through the guard and curling shots off the back foot. Just as I say that, Bank connects on a big body shot to end a competitive opening frame ahead.

Next, Pawel August (18-0, 7 KOs) and The Ring's No. 8 super middleweight Jacob Bank (19-0, 11 KOs) are making their ringwalks before their eight-round offering at 168 pounds.

Ring champion Oleksandr Usyk, who relinquished his trio of heavyweight titles last month, analyses the divisional landscape on the live broadcast while praising WBC champion Agit Kabayel and Moses Itauma, who faces a career-best challenge in longtime contender Filip Hrgovic next month. Interesting tidbits there...

Joshua's foe-turned-teammate Oleksandr Usyk has given his thoughts on tonight's main event. Watch below:

Indian junior middleweight hopeful Nishant Dev (7-0, 5 KOs) began the main card with a vicious first-round knockout of Peru's Cesar Diaz (10-3, 5 KOs) as the Matchroom-backed youngster, 25, delivered another sharp ending to his second contest scheduled for eight rounds.

Diaz was floored by a southpaw counter shot, two minutes into the contest and Dev varied punches to head and body before logging two more knockdowns. That short left uppercut, wow...

There's growing optimism the 2024 Olympian can make waves, not just for himself, but India's booming 1.4 billion population as a star within a discipline lacking many role models or inspiring stories at the elite level.

A real mixture of stoppages and points victories across a seven-fight offering on YouTube earlier, topped by Oleksandr Usyk's latest protege Oleksandr Khyzhniak at light heavyweight. Best keep an eye on him, me thinks.

My name's Mosope Ominiyi and I'll be taking you through the action as it unfolds, exclusively on DAZN PPV, as we see the much-anticipated return of Joshua in Saudi Arabia ... knowing victory (and an impressive one!) will set the wheels in motion for a Fury clash later this year. Who's ready?

Welcome to The Ring's live blog commentary of Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga.