Eddie Hearn Worried Anthony Joshua's Career Might Be Over After Shocking Knockdowns by Kristian Prenga

EDDIE HEARN feared Anthony Joshua’s career was OVER after he was knocked down twice by Kristian Prenga.

The two-time heavyweight world champion returned in Jeddah for what was expected to be a routine demolition job of unknown Albanian Prenga.

Anthony Joshua was dropped twice by Kristian Prenga Credit: Getty But he came back to secure victory in round two Credit: AP

But the comeback bout came just eight months on from the tragic car crash that

And Hearn felt AJ – who survived with only bruised ribs but a mental scar you can never recover from – jumped back into the ring too early.

He was down after 20 SECONDS before climbing off the canvas following a left hand moments later.

But Joshua – – pulled it around in round two with a right hook to keep his career alive.

Hearn told SunSport on the ring apron: “That was the most dramatic, emotional four minutes certainly of my career maybe my life.

“So many emotions going through your mind in what was probably two and a half minutes of just unbelievable drama.

“I just can’t believe he found a way to win. Honestly. All week, you kind of start thinking to yourself, ‘Has he come back too early?’

“He needed boxing to get over the grief but also he hasn’t got over the grief, does that make sense?

“But it’s a quick fix and it’s helped him so much. But he goes down like that and it’s like, ‘Did he come back too early?’

“What did he have, like 24 breaks in his ribs or something like that. And then I started thinking to myself, ‘It’s over, the career is over.’

“I actually thought to myself at one stage, what an unbelievable journey I’m so proud of him that he made it back and if this is the moment when it’s all over, then what a ride.

“To get back after what happened, I’m so proud of him. And then when he made it back to the stool, I was like if he can just get his legs.

“Because one thing he’s got that he will never lose is concussive power because if he hits you one time on the chin then the fight changes.

“And he hit Prenga about a minute before he stopped him with one right hand and everything just changed. He started to back up a little.

“And the knockout, that’s what he does. And I know he’s shown signs of vulnerability at times and I know he makes mistakes.

“But, he can knock you out cold at any moment. And when he fights Tyson Fury, that’s the kind of fight it’s going to be.”

Joshua, 36, and Fury, 37, have already signed contracts to finally commence their Battle of Britain.

But no date and location has been decided with AJ’s deal stipulating that the bout MUST take place in the UK.

New York’s Madison Square Garden to host in a bid to accommodate US viewing time on Netflix.

Fury returned with a warm-up win of his own one day before AJ – dancing around 46-year-old

Tyson Fury cruised past Mariusz Wach Credit: AFP Eddie Hearn celebrating with Joshua Credit: Getty

Hearn is now set for talks but insisted if the fight is to head Stateside then their deal would have to be renegotiated.

He said: “Apparently those guys are gonna come and see me next week to talk about what they want to do.

“It’s pretty clear they want the fight in America. We don’t.

“The fight is agreed and signed – if they follow everything in the contract which is how business works. If they want to change the terms then there has to be a conversation.”

Saudi boxing financier Turki Alalshikh – who is fronting the cash for the all-Brit fight – appears adamant on taking it to America to capitalise on primetime US viewing.

It would leave Hearn – who has spent the last decade trying to make the bout happen – among the disappointed home fans if an away day gets signed off.

He said: “I’ve got the same anger and frustration. I feel exactly the same way about the British fight fans.

“In fact, love me or hate me, I am a British fight fan. I’m just the same as the people that want it in Britain. Just my name’s involved in it.

“And even for my legacy, I don’t want this fight in America.”