Joe Joyce’s hopes of reigniting his heavyweight title aspirations suffered a major setback Saturday night as he dropped a unanimous decision to Filip Hrgovic in Manchester. Joyce, once viewed as one of the most durable and relentless forces in the division, absorbed a barrage of clean shots from Hrgovic, who dictated much of the action en route to scorecards of 97-93, 96-95, and 98-92.
Despite a gutsy effort from Joyce, this marks his fourth loss in five outings—a troubling trend for the 38-year-old Londoner. Though Joyce tried to match Hrgovic’s combinations with single heavy counters, the Croatian’s quicker hands and superior accuracy made the difference, particularly in the later rounds where Joyce began to visibly fade.
The opening round saw Joyce briefly stunned by a sharp right hand, though he remained on his feet and battled through a bloodied Hrgovic, who sustained a cut over his left eye early. The Putney native rebounded with a solid second round, but it became clear as the fight wore on that his defense was again being exposed.
Hrgovic, who had lost his last bout to Daniel Dubois on cuts, found redemption against Joyce, landing over 50% of his power shots. The final rounds were tough viewing for Joyce supporters, as he endured flush rights and pressure without managing to turn the tide. Still, true to his reputation, Joyce never backed down and survived the full 10 rounds despite the onslaught.
Post-fight, Joyce remained defiant, insisting he intends to fight on despite his recent setbacks. While his career trajectory now faces serious questions, especially with rising contenders pushing forward, Joyce’s chin and heart were again on full display.
His past victories, including a stoppage over current IBF champion Dubois, keep him relevant, but he must now reassess how to adjust if he’s to stay in the mix among the heavyweight elite. For now, Hrgovic walks away with the momentum, but Joyce’s future remains a subject of concern and curiosity.
