Anthony Joshua recovered from two first-round knockdowns to stop Kristian Prenga in Jeddah. One night earlier, Tyson Fury completed his part of their proposed collision course by defeating Mariusz Wach in Thailand.
Tim Tszyu then produced the most complete performance of the weekend, controlling Errol Spence Jr over 12 rounds in Sydney before the former unified welterweight champion announced his retirement.
Elsewhere, Hamzah Sheeraz and Josh Kelly retained their world titles, although both British champions faced more resistance than expected.
Readers can follow further results, previews and analysis through World in Sport’s boxing coverage.
Latest major boxing results
Joshua stopped Prenga at 2.43 of the second round after Sheeraz and Kelly had retained their titles on the same Jeddah card. Tszyu defeated Spence by scores of 118-110 and 117-111 twice in Sydney.
Joshua survives a disastrous opening round
Joshua entered his fight against Prenga as the overwhelming favourite, but the first round almost produced one of the biggest heavyweight shocks in recent memory.
Prenga landed a powerful uppercut within the opening exchanges and sent Joshua to the canvas. The Albanian continued to connect with heavy right hands before recording a second knockdown late in the round.
Joshua appeared unsteady and struggled to contain an opponent who had never previously competed at elite level. The questions raised in our Joshua v Prenga preview suddenly became very real.
However, Joshua survived until the bell and transformed the contest in the second round.
The former unified heavyweight champion stepped forward behind a strong jab before landing a series of right hands. Prenga retreated towards the ropes, where Joshua’s follow-up attack ended the fight with 17 seconds remaining in the round.
Joshua improved his record to 30 wins and four defeats, with 27 victories inside the distance. Prenga suffered only the second loss of his career after entering with 20 knockout wins from 20 victories.
The result ultimately matched the prediction, but the route to victory could hardly have looked more different.
World in Sport’s profile of Kristian Prenga highlighted his punching power, although the gap in experience appeared likely to prove decisive.
Instead, Prenga demonstrated that his knockout record carried genuine danger. Joshua needed his resilience and finishing instinct to escape.
The victory preserved the biggest available fight of his career, but it also gave Fury and his team an obvious area to target. Joshua cannot afford to begin slowly or remain static against a more experienced opponent who knows how to finish a hurt heavyweight.
At the same time, recovering from two knockdowns carried significance beyond tactics. Joshua was competing for the first time since suffering injuries in the December car crash in Nigeria that killed his close friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
His composure between rounds and aggression after the restart showed that he still possesses the determination to fight through a crisis. Reuters’ ringside report confirmed that Joshua’s team considers the proposed Fury contest agreed for later in 2026.
Fury completes his assignment against Wach
Fury faced fewer problems during his meeting with the experienced Wach at the Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya.
The former heavyweight champion controlled the contest through his jab, movement and sustained pressure. Wach remained upright for seven rounds, but his corner withdrew him before the eighth could begin.
It was a routine victory against a 46-year-old opponent whose durability presented a greater threat than his speed or attacking ambition. Fury landed regularly, switched stance and gradually increased the pace without taking unnecessary risks.
The result took Fury to 36 wins, two defeats and one draw. More importantly, it removed the final scheduled obstacle between him and Joshua.
Our Fury v Wach preview explained why the fight mattered despite the difference in age and recent form.
Fury did not need to produce a career-best performance. He needed to win without suffering an injury or damaging setback.
He achieved that objective.
However, the low-key surroundings and limited level of opposition make it difficult to judge how close Fury is to his best. Wach offered resistance, but he did not force Fury to fight at a sustained pace or solve difficult tactical problems.
Joshua will present far greater speed, power and athleticism, even after the concerning moments against Prenga. Fury therefore leaves Thailand with momentum rather than definitive proof that he is ready for another major heavyweight contest.
Joshua v Fury moves closer at last
The victories for Joshua and Fury mean boxing’s long-delayed all-British heavyweight contest has cleared its immediate sporting hurdles.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, said the contract had been signed, while reports continue to point towards a fight later in 2026. However, a venue has not been officially confirmed.
Both men also leave the weekend with different concerns.
Joshua showed heart and destructive power, but Prenga exposed his vulnerability during the opening round. Fury looked composed and controlled against Wach, although the contest offered little evidence about how he would perform under serious pressure.
That uncertainty may increase interest rather than reduce it.
Neither boxer is currently operating at the peak of his career. Both have suffered major defeats, changed direction and rebuilt through carefully selected opponents. Their meeting would now centre on which fighter can summon one more elite performance when the pressure reaches its highest point.
The fight no longer carries an undisputed championship. It would still carry enormous importance for British boxing and the legacies of both men.
Tszyu controls Spence before emotional retirement
The most significant result outside the heavyweight division came at Sydney’s Afterpay Arena, where Tszyu defeated Spence by a clear unanimous decision.
Spence began reasonably well after almost three years away from competitive action. He used his southpaw jab, targeted the body and attempted to disrupt Tszyu’s forward movement.
However, Tszyu gradually took control.
The Australian closed the distance more effectively as the fight developed, forced Spence backwards and landed the cleaner right hands. Spence remained competitive in spells, but his output and movement declined during the second half.
All three judges returned wide cards for Tszyu: 118-110 and 117-111 twice. The victory improved his record to 28-3 and placed him back in contention for major opportunities at middleweight.
The outcome supported the central concern raised in World in Sport’s Spence v Tszyu preview.
Spence’s experience and technique remained evident, but the combination of age, inactivity and a naturally larger opponent proved too difficult to overcome.
Tszyu described 160lb as his new division after the fight and made clear that he intends to pursue another world title. His pressure, physical strength and discipline under Jeff Fenech showed that he can remain a major factor beyond super-welterweight.
The closing moments belonged to Spence.
The 36-year-old confirmed his retirement during his post-fight interview, saying he wanted to return home to his family and begin a new life. He leaves the sport with 28 victories, two defeats and a record that includes unified welterweight title reigns and wins over Kell Brook, Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia and Yordenis Ugas.
There was no manufactured controversy and no immediate demand for a rematch. Spence accepted the result, congratulated Tszyu and stepped away on his own terms.
ABC Sport’s full fight coverage recorded the announcement and confirmed the three official scorecards. (ABC News)
Sheeraz retains but leaves questions unanswered
Sheeraz successfully defended his WBO super-middleweight title against Zachenhuber, although the champion struggled to produce the dominant display many expected.
Zachenhuber remained active, awkward and competitive across the 12 rounds. His southpaw stance disrupted Sheeraz’s rhythm, while his work rate prevented the champion from settling into a comfortable pattern.
Sheeraz landed the heavier individual punches, particularly to the body, but he could not force a stoppage or establish complete control.
The judges returned scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 114-114, giving Sheeraz a majority-decision victory. He remains unbeaten at 24-0-1, but the close scorecards reflected a performance that fell below his recent standards.
Retaining the belt was the essential outcome. Nevertheless, Sheeraz will need greater consistency if his next defence comes against one of the division’s established champions or leading contenders.
Kelly shows resilience against Agyarko
Kelly also retained his world title after a demanding contest with the previously unbeaten Agyarko.
The IBF super-welterweight champion controlled much of the early action through his speed and movement. Agyarko responded by increasing the pressure and finding greater success during the middle rounds.
Kelly suffered facial damage and also received a point deduction for punching around the back of Agyarko’s head. Those difficulties narrowed the contest, but the champion recovered sufficiently during the closing rounds.
The judges scored the fight 114-113 and 115-112 twice in Kelly’s favour. The decision improved his record to 19-1-1 and gave him the first successful defence of his IBF title.
It was not Kelly’s cleanest performance, but it may prove valuable. He had to manage a cut, a deduction and an opponent who refused to fade. Those experiences should help as he moves towards potential unification fights and higher-profile opposition.
What did the latest boxing weekend change?
The weekend moved several careers in sharply different directions.
Joshua and Fury kept their proposed heavyweight showdown alive. Neither produced a flawless performance, but both completed the assignments placed in front of them.
Tszyu restored his position among the leading fighters around the middleweight division. His win carried greater competitive value than the victories recorded by either British heavyweight because he defeated an accomplished former champion over 12 rounds.
Spence reached the end of his career with clarity. His comeback did not produce another title run. But it allowed him to leave boxing after sharing the ring with a leading opponent rather than wondering whether he could still compete.
Sheeraz and Kelly retained their belts, although both will understand that tougher nights lie ahead. Their victories maintained momentum without removing the questions surrounding their next steps.
The most anticipated development remains Joshua v Fury. The results cleared the path, but the performances ensured that predicting the winner will remain difficult.
That uncertainty should make the build-up even more compelling.
