At 39 years old, Joe Joyce’s boxing future is now under intense scrutiny after another defeat.
Despite suffering a hard-fought loss to Filip Hrgovic on Saturday night, Joyce remains determined to continue his boxing career.
The fight, which took place in Manchester, saw Hrgovic secure a unanimous points victory to claim the vacant WBO International heavyweight title.
The loss adds to a troubling trend for Joyce, who has now lost four of his last five fights.
A Challenging Run of Fights
Joe Joyce has been on a difficult path recently. This latest defeat comes after a string of losses, including two against Zhilei Zhang for the WBO interim heavyweight title—a title Joyce once held.
Adding to the pressure, Joyce was also defeated by Derek Chisora in July 2024.
The 39-year-old’s record has sparked questions about his future in the sport, especially with his 40th birthday approaching in September.
In an interview after the fight, Joyce was asked if he still believed he had something to offer the sport.
His response was resolute: “Yeah, are you not entertained?” Joyce acknowledged that it had been a tough fight and praised Hrgovic as a great fighter, but his confidence in continuing was clear.
Frank Warren’s Cautionary Words
While Joyce remains positive about his future, his promoter, Frank Warren, offered a more cautious perspective. At 73, Warren emphasized the importance of reflection.
“He has got to go and have a really serious think about his future, which is what he will do,” Warren said.
He continued to praise Joyce’s contributions to British boxing, describing him as “a brilliant servant to British boxing” who is always involved in exciting matches.
Warren also reflected on Joyce’s Olympic success, noting his silver medal in the 2016 Olympics.
“He should have had the gold,” Warren said, urging Joyce to take some time to consider his next steps.
A Last-Minute Change and Tough Opposition
The bout against Hrgovic wasn’t originally on the cards. Joyce was initially set to face Dillian Whyte in an all-British showdown.
However, Whyte was forced to pull out due to a serious injury to his finger, which caused significant damage.
With Whyte out, Queensberry Promotions scrambled to find a replacement, ultimately lining up Hrgovic as Joyce’s opponent.
Joyce and Hrgovic both have history, having competed against each other in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Both men walked away with medals, with Joyce securing silver and Hrgovic earning a bronze.
Their shared Olympic experience made the match even more significant.
Joyce, refusing to take an easier route, chose to face another top-level contender in Hrgovic, and though the bout was competitive, Hrgovic emerged victorious with scores of 98-92, 96-95, and 97-93.
Looking Ahead
After suffering his first professional loss to Daniel Dubois in June 2024, Hrgovic’s victory against Joyce marked a crucial point in his career as he looks to rebuild and continue his rise in the heavyweight division.
As for Joyce, the loss raises serious questions about his future in boxing, and he now faces an important decision regarding his career.
Whether he decides to keep pushing forward or take a step back, only time will tell.