Anthony Joshua recovered from two early knockdowns to stop Kristian Prenga in the second round of a non-title heavyweight fight on Sunday (AEST).

The former two-time world champion Joshua was fighting for the first time since surviving a car crash in Nigeria in December that injured him and killed his friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele and got the job done early.

Anthony Joshua battles with Albania’s Kristian Prenga. Ali Issa

Joshua acknowledged his friends straight after improving his record to 30-4.

“It’s more than punch power,” Joshua said of his knockout.

“That was spirit. That was Latz and Sina. That was the family. You know what I mean? That hurts even talking about it.

“He (Prenga) gave me a good test but this is what champions do, we rise. We get knocked down and stand up. That is life, that is life’s motto.”

Joshua was flattened by an uppercut inside 30 seconds. He beat the count but looked seriously shaken.

Prenga laid out Joshua again, with Joshua rising before the end of the count and survived to the bell.

A quick end was expected but nobody thought it would be Prenga’s. Joshua unleashed a flurry of fists and finished Prenga with a right hook, sending the Albanian through the bottom of the ropes.

The turnaround shocked even heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk, whose face ringside was caught by TV cameras.

The comeback also possibly saved a showdown between Joshua and Tyson Fury.

Joshua’s manager Eddie Hearn claims his fighter and Fury have signed a contract to meet for the first time later this year, but on condition they came through warm up bouts this weekend.

“I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat,” Joshua said about fighting Fury.

Anthony Joshua took victory.  Richard Pelham

Fury played his part by coming out of retirement this year and on Saturday forcing 46-year-old Polish journeyman Mariusz Wach to retire in round seven in Thailand.

Joshua almost blew his part of the claimed contract but even as Prenga brought a 20-1 record with 20 KOs into the match up with Joshua, it was the British boxer who came out victorious.