Anthony Joshua recovers to knockout Kristian Prenga

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia- Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua survived a first-round onslaught before knocking out Albanian Kristian Prenga to clear the path for his long-awaited showdown with fellow Briton Tyson Fury.

Fighting for the first time since two of his best friends died in a car crash in Nigeria in December in which he was injured, the 36-year-old Joshua was floored by a thunderous right uppercut within the opening 30 seconds, and he took another count late in the first round.

Joshua made it to the bell and came out all guns blazing in the second round, unleashing huge right hands to knock Prenga into the ropes, and the Albanian could not recover as the fight was ended by the referee.

"He (Prenga) is a serious fighter, strong, durable and he came and gave me a good test, but this is what champions do - we rise, man. We get knocked down, we stand up and we keep going. That's life," Joshua told reporters.

Fury beat ​Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday in a fight that was not broadcast live on television, with the 46-year-old Pole retiring on his stool before the eighth round, and Joshua's victory cleared the way for a bout between the two Britons that has been agreed for later this year.

"We've signed the contract, everything's done, but to be honest with you, tonight is all about the strength that he showed to even be here tonight, and the strength that he had to show in that fight," Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn said.

"When you go down a couple of times in the first round and you're looking like your career might be over, he had to go to the depths one more time to get up and fight on."

Reporting by Philip O'Connor, editing by Ed Osmond/Reuters