Filip Hrgovic revitalized his boxing career and potentially pushed Joe Joyce closer to retirement after their heavyweight bout at Manchester`s Co-op Live Arena.
In an action-packed 10-round fight, Hrgovic was declared the winner by unanimous decision. The judges scored the contest 97-93, 96-95, and 98-92, all in favor of Hrgovic. He also claimed the WBO International heavyweight title with this victory.
Hrgovic started the fight strong, landing consistent right hands and left hooks that Joyce absorbed. Hrgovic`s punches behind the head were noticeable, and some clinching resulted in a cut for Hrgovic, a recurring issue in his career.
Joyce demonstrated his characteristic stamina and resilience, working his way back into the fight during the middle rounds. However, Hrgovic, benefiting from his training camp at Big Bear, found renewed energy and used effective combinations to keep Joyce at a distance.
Joyce now faces significant questions about his future in boxing. Hrgovic, on the other hand, believes this win puts him in line for a title shot and has a specific opponent in mind.
“This guy beat Dubois, and I beat him, so I want to rematch Daniel Dubois,” Hrgovic stated.
“I took this fight on short notice, so I wasn`t fully prepared. I`m very happy to be back and am looking forward to major fights in the future. This guy is incredibly tough; I couldn`t believe how many punches he could take. He`s a true warrior, very strong.”
Hrgovic praised his new trainer, Abel Sanchez, for his coaching expertise, vowing to help Sanchez achieve his ambition of training a heavyweight champion.
A visibly disappointed Joe Joyce acknowledged the defeat, mentioning their previous encounter in the WSB, making the score 1-1 between them.
“We can do it again. Were you not entertained?” Joyce asked, adding, “He’s a great fighter.”
Frank Warren, Joyce`s promoter, suggested that Joyce needs to seriously consider his next steps after this fourth loss in his last five fights. Warren felt the fight was closer than indicated by some judges` scores. Hrgovic`s record improves to 18-1 (14 KOs), while Joyce`s record falls to 16-4 (15 KOs).
