Anthony Joshua’s celebration after stopping Kristian Prenga may have sounded inspiring, but it also ignored what everyone had just witnessed.

“I can’t be stopped, I’m not gonna be stopped, I’m not gonna be denied,” Joshua said after climbing off the canvas twice to score a second-round knockout in Jeddah.

The victory keeps his comeback moving, yet the opening round told a different story. Joshua was dropped twice by an unranked opponent, with the first knockdown coming from a short right uppercut that did not appear especially destructive. He also benefited from the bell arriving before Prenga had another opportunity to finish the job.

Joshua may still have enough left to defeat Tyson Fury if their long-discussed fight finally happens. Fury has looked vulnerable himself in recent outings, making it difficult to view either man as close to his best.

Looking beyond that fight is where Joshua’s comments become harder to accept. He has spoken about boxing for another three or four years, but Saturday’s performance suggested his punch resistance has deteriorated to the point where facing the division’s leading heavyweights on a regular basis would be a dangerous proposition. One dramatic comeback cannot erase the warning signs from the opening round.