Joe Joyce committed to fighting on despite setback loss to Filip Hrgovic
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk
Joe Joyce has indicated he wants to carry on fighting despite a points defeat to Filip Hrgovic in Manchester on Saturday night.
The former WBO interim world heavyweight champion, 39, has lost four of his last five bouts and appears further than ever away from a return to the top echelons of the division.
Croatia’s Hrgovic was a late replacement for Dillian Whyte, the Brixton puncher withdrawing due to injury, but prevailed by scores of
97-93, 96-95 and 98-92 at the Co-op Live arena.
“Joe has now got to go and sit down with his family, his trainers and his manager and think about what the future is for him,” said Frank Warren, who promoted the event. “I want to have a chat with him, which I will do, and give him my opinion.
“He is a fighting man. The truth of the matter is you get to a certain stage in your career where these things catch up with you. He gives everything.
“It was a hard-fought contest. It was a close fight.”
Putney-born Joyce was a late entrant to the professional game in 2017 after a stellar amateur career which saw him win silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics and gold at the European Games and World Championships.
He was fast-tracked and claimed the Commonwealth title in only his fourth bout in the paid ranks.
Joyce claimed the British and European belts after a 10th-round stoppage of Daniel Dubois, now IBF world champion, in November 2020.
“I may not be the best talker but I’m still learning in boxing,” said the former Earlsfield ABC amateur.
“I’m doing what I love and I’m enjoying it still – it’s win-win.
“I thought the fight was close. I was waiting for my hand to be raised by the referee but it went to him.
“Heavyweight boxing is alive and kicking. There are still more fights.
“My fight against Dereck Chisora was over 10 rounds and I wanted it to be 12. This was a 10-rounder and I wanted it to be 12, those extra twi rounds [can make the difference].”
Hrgovic, 32, had not fought since being halted in eight rounds by Dubois in Saudi Arabia in June.
He said: “I am really happy for this win. It wasn’t a great win but it was a solid win.
“I knew if I lost two in a row it may be my career finished, that I wouldn’t get many more chances and need to rebuild myself for a long time.
“I knew I wasn’t in my best shape, I felt it in sparring and the gym. I was in medium shape.
“I thought I won at least seven rounds, maybe eight. In the UK against a UK fighter I knew it’s going to be close.”
