Filip Hrgovic Outpoints Joe Joyce in Manchester
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Manchester, UK ( April 6th, 2025)– Sometimes accepting a bout with a replacement late substitute opponent your camp is not fully prepared for can have career consequences. When Dillian Whyte withdrew from his scheduled bout with an injured finger, Filip Hrgovic stepped up to the plate with a five-week training camp and still proved an equally difficult challenge for Joe ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce.
On April 5, 2025, at Co-Op Live Arena in Greenwich, Joy ‘Juggernaut’ Joyce was outpointed over 10 rounds by Filip Hrgovic, 18-1 with 14 knockouts, Zagreb, Croatia, and was unsuccessful in his attempt to regain the WBO International title, won by Hrgovic, which was vacant. Joyce, now 16-4 with 15 knockouts, Putney, London, United Kingdom, is now 1-4 in bouts where he has been unsuccessful in knocking his opponent out.
After incurring his fourth loss in his last five pro bouts in less than 24 months, the career of former WBC Silver, WBO International and WBO interim World Heavyweight champion Joe Joyce is probably over at age 39. Joyce, who turned pro at age 33 at Indigo at 02 Arena in Greenwich with an eighth-round stoppage of Ian Lewison, went on to stop future IBF interim World Heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois. His career peaked, then faded with a pair of stoppage losses to Zhilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang, and then a 10-round decision loss to veteran warrior Dereck Chisora.
The Joyce versus Hrgovic bout was a must win for both combatants, and Hrgovic, age 32, used dazzling hand speed combinations and jabs to outwork Joyce primarily in center ring and win a technical chess match. Although Joyce weighed in at 275 pounds, lighter than his last two bouts, Hrgovic weighed in at 250 pounds. Though 250 pounds was a career high for Hrgovic, as both combatants stood 6’6″, the lighter Hrgovic had the advantage on mobility.
Hrgovic’s left hooks and overhand right hands were fast and accurate early. Joyce tried to counter with pinpoint single body shots, but his left eye was already cut and puffy before the end of round one. Both fighters spent the remainder of the bout in the center ring, standing in front of each other. Hrgovic was the faster of the two and more effective on the punch count of punches thrown and landed. Joyce, because of the left eye swelling, missed many punches and may not have been seeing Hrgovic well.
Joyce defeated Hrgovic in 2013 by split decision in the amateurs in their only previous encounter. Hrgovic was simply too accurate this time around, using power overhand rights and left-hook right-hand combinations. Joyce landed a number of accurate body shots, but Hrgovic landed more power shots overall. Hrgovic was landed practically all of the power head shots, and Joyce just ate too much punishment over the middle and later rounds.
Hrgovic’s Trainer Abel Sanchez correctly surmised Joyce had taken too much punishment in his recent bout and his effectiveness rate would be diminished. Hrgovic landed 14 head shots in round eight to four by Joyce in the eighth round down the stretch. Hrgovic was cut above the left eye, yet Hrgovic flourished as he somehow found a second wind late in the bout. Joyce continued taking his bombs.
Joyce need to win two of the final three rounds to earn a split draw. If Joyce had won one of the final three rounds, it still would still have enabled Hrgovic to win by split decision.
Hrgovic won the last three rounds, burying Joyce on the scorecards and seemingly sending Joyce (who will be 40 years old if he fights again) into a possible retirement. Promoter Frank Warren has given Joyce all of the big opportunity bouts, and home country advantage, but Joyce has faded with age. Both fighters were in top condition for this bout, with no knockdowns. One scorecard 98-92 for Hrgovic appeared a bit too far-fetched. However, Hrgovic clearly won this bout technically on points. The second scorecard 97-93 for Hrgovic appeared closest to correct. Nothing Joyce threw moved or bothered him Hrgovic all 10 rounds, which frustrated Joyce, who had an available and largely stationary target in front of him for all 10 rounds with a good defense Joyce could mostly not penetrate.
Hrgovic Won by Unanimous Decision in 10 Rounds over Joyce, Heavyweights.
Hrgovic wins interim World Boxing Organisation International heavyweight title
Scoring: 98-92, 97-93, 96-95 for Hrgovic. Referee: Howard Foster
Co-Op Live Arena Manchester Major Results:
David Adeleye won by TKO 6 Jeamie Tshikeva, Heavyweights (0:55)
Adeleye wins the vacant BBBofC British heavyweight title.
Tshikeva was knocked down from a left hand in a clinch, then got knocked down again.
Jack Rafferty won by TKO in 5 over Cory O’Regan, Super Lightweights (2:26)
Rafferty retains the Commonwealth Boxing Council Super Lightweight title.
There was controversy with Rafferty knocking down O’Regan with a short left on a referee’s break near the end of round three. O’Regan down in fourth, ruled a slip by referee Darren Sarginson. With Rafferty landing punishing body shots, O’Regan’s corner threw in the towel in fifth round.
Khaleel Majid Won in 10 rounds over Alex Murphy, Super Lightweights
15-0 Buddy McGirt trained Majid to win hard-fought standing ovation thriller over 13-0 Murphy, who was cut over his left eye in the tenth round head clash. 96-95, 97-94, 96-94 Majid. If Murphy had won the final round, the bout would have been a split draw. Exciting matchup.
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