Daily English Article — July 27, 2026

Anthony Joshua survived one of the most dramatic opening rounds in recent boxing history to defeat Kristian Prenga in two rounds at the Jeddah Superdome, Saudi Arabia. Just 19 seconds into the fight, the Albanian challenger landed a right uppercut that dropped Joshua to the canvas. The knockdown stunned the crowd and raised immediate questions about Joshua's readiness, coming just seven months after his knockout victory over Jake Paul in December.

Prenga continued his assault, forcing Joshua to touch the canvas a second time with his glove and earning a second 10-count from the referee. Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, openly wondered whether the 36-year-old had returned 'too soon,' particularly in light of the personal tragedy Joshua had endured — a car accident shortly after the Paul fight had claimed the lives of two of his closest friends and nearly killed Joshua himself.

However, Joshua dug deep during the one-minute rest between rounds, drawing on what he described as a 'higher power.' In the second round, he turned the fight completely on its head. A combination of a right hand, a short-range left, and a clubbing punch sent Prenga crashing to the canvas. The challenger landed awkwardly against the bottom rope, and the referee's count ended the bout, giving Joshua a stunning comeback victory.

The win keeps Joshua's path to the highly anticipated showdown with compatriot Tyson Fury firmly on track. Hearn confirmed the mega-fight is already 'signed' and tentatively scheduled for later in 2025. The two British heavyweights have been linked for years, with several proposed bouts falling through. Fury himself fought on the previous evening in Thailand, stopping Mariusz Wach, adding further momentum toward the long-awaited clash.

The undercard also produced notable results. Hamzah Sheeraz retained his WBO super middleweight title against Simon Zachenhuber, though the performance was considered unconvincing. IBF super welterweight champion Josh Kelly overcame a bloody face to defeat Caoimhin Agyarko on points, demonstrating considerable heart. Rising prospect Reito Tsatsumi also impressed with a dominant performance, further cementing his reputation as a fighter to watch in the coming years.

DC Comics unveiled the first look at Absolute Superman #25 at the DC Absolute Universe panel held during San Diego Comic-Con 2026. The issue features a striking triple gatefold cover and will center on a major team-up: Absolute Hawkman, Absolute Black Adam, Absolute Toyman, Absolute Metallo, Absolute Steel, and Absolute Superman joining forces to confront the formidable Absolute Brainiac, the villain who has been operating in the shadows throughout much of the Absolute Universe storyline.

Absolute Brainiac's origins were explored in Absolute Superman #6, revealing him as one of millions of Brainiacs that form a collective intelligence. His background is notably humble — he began his existence shovelling the remains of Brainiacs who had been disposed of or destroyed. Despite these origins, he demonstrated cunning ambition, exploiting circumstances to rise through the ranks and eventually making his way to Earth, where his formative experiences have shaped his deeply sinister worldview.

On Earth, Brainiac operates under the employ of Ra's Al Ghul and is actively investigating Absolute Superman. In the course of his research, he learns more about Superman's origins and appears to be developing what may be Absolute Kryptonite — a weapon capable of threatening the Man of Steel. His alien artificial intelligence nature makes him particularly dangerous, as he is already an outcast from the broader Brainiac collective, leaving him with little restraint or accountability.

Brainiac's most chilling act involves his calculated approach to Absolute Lex Luthor, whom he seeks to recruit into the Absolute Evil faction. He adopts a familiar appearance to gain Luthor's trust before subjecting him to extreme psychological and physical torture — holding his eyes open in a reference to Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange before murdering Luthor's family with a chainsaw. This brutal sequence raises the question of whether Luthor will be broken into joining Absolute Evil.

The storyline also hints at an intriguing parallel-universe political detail: an unnamed American president — possibly President Hillary Clinton in this alternate timeline — apparently slapped Brainiac at some point in the past. The Absolute Universe, written by Jason Aaron with art by Juan Ferreyra, continues to expand its dark and morally complex mythology. The DC Absolute Universe panel at SDCC 2026 also showcased similar milestone issues for Absolute Batman and Absolute Wonder Woman.