Joe Joyce vs Filip Hrgovic LIVE RESULTS: Juggernaut in BLOODY clash as career HANGS IN BALANCE after yet another defeat
JOE JOYCE is now facing HUGE questions over his future after a crushing defeat to Filip Hrgovic in Manchester.
The Juggernaut, 39, suffered a fourth loss in his last five fights with Hrgovic taking a unanimous decision.
Late replacement Hrgovic looked good as he tries to get back into world title contention - but Joyce will now hear calls to retire given his age and recent record.
On a stacked bill at the Co-Op Arena, David Adeleye won the British heavyweight title after a hugely controversial win over Jeamie TKV - with the ref seemingly grabbing TKV's hand before Adeleye got the finish.
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Main card results
Junior-welterweight: Jack Rafferty TKO5 (2:26) Cory O'Regan
Heavyweight: Delicious Orie UD4 (40-36) Milos Veletic
Junior-welter: Khaleel Majid UD10 (97-94, 96-94, 96-95) Alex Murphy
Undercard results
Super-featherweight: Royston Barney-Smith UD8 (80-72) Cesar Ignacio Paredes
Junior-welter: Mark Chamberlain UD8 (80-72) Miguel Angel Scaringi
Featherweight: Nelson Birchall KO1 (1:31) Rodrigo Matias Areco
Super-middleweight: Ramtin Musah UD4 (40-36) Robbie Chapman
Super-bantamweight: Louis Szeto UD4 (38-37) Nabil Ahmed
Featherweight: Alfie Middlemiss UD4 (40-37) Alexander Morales
Whyte's injury
Whyte was due to fight Joyce instead of Hrgovic, but had to pull out of the domestic dust up after cutting open his finger while training in the gym.
In an interview with , Whyte revealed that he had initially hoped to fight, but had to withdraw when realising the severity of the issue.
The Body Snatcher is now seeing a specialist in the hopes of possibly rescheduling the fight somewhere down the line.
He said: "I'm getting some feeling back, but I have been getting numbness in my finger.
"But my movement is coming back, it is cut to the bone so it could be nerve damage but we will see."
David Adeleye vs Jeamie TKV
The first round started slow with neither boxers taking control.
The second round saw more grabbing and spoiling from the pair – not what the fans wanted to see but Adeleye did end the round with a combination on the ropes.
The third round was booed for the lack of action but things get ugly in the fourth as the two leaned in and grabbed each other.
More of the same was seen in Round five as the two could not stop clashing and coming together.
Early in round six, a short left hook after a coming together sees Adeleye land a big left hook.
Referee Ron Kearney called ‘break’ when both men were in the clinch in the sixth round after tapping Tshikeva’s gloves.
Adeleye took the victory but it caused controversy with TKV’s team arguing that the referee should have intervened before Adeleye’s left hook that first dropped him.
Jack Rafferty vs Cory O’Regan
Onslaught from Rafferty and O’Regan was stopped on his feet after the towel went in.
O’Regan started really well boxing beautifully on the back foot but a heavy knockdown caused his demise.
O’Regan finished the fight on his feet but with massive credit banked while Rafferty retained his Commonwealth title.
Recap of the matches
Mark Chamberlain’s fight had come and gone quickly.
The super-lightweight took on Miguel Scaringi in a fight that, strangely, went without TV coverage.
Royston Barney-Smith has cruised past seven of his eight rounds against Cesar Ignacio Paredes.
Khaleel Majid and Alex Murphy went blow-for-blow but the judges scored the bout 97-94, 96-94 and 96-95 to Majid.
Orie taken the four round distance on his pro debut against Veletic.
When Joyce took on Dubois
Joyce took on Dubois - during the coronavirus pandemic - behind-closed-doors at Church House in London.
A handful of people, from select media to fight night officials, watched the anticipated British and Commonwealth title fight.
It was closely contested until gruesome swelling caused Dubois' left eye to completely close up as a consequence of Joyce's jab.
Dubois was left unable to see and reduced to taking a knee in round ten - where he surrendered.
Joyce's brilliant lead left hand, punch accuracy and pressure was overshadowed by harsh criticism levelled Dubois' way.
Promoter Frank Warren even had to defend Dubois - who suffered a fractured orbital bone - amid claims he QUIT in the ring.
Joyce and Hrgovic's first encounter
In their 2013 amateur bout, Joe Joyce faced Filip Hrgović at York Hall in London.
The match was part of the World Series of Boxing and consisted of five rounds.
Joyce secured a split decision victory, edging out Hrgović in a closely contested fight.
Fight for the ages
Hrgovic and Joyce go way back, but the travelling Croatian still does not know how old his British rival is.
Hrgovic said during the press conference ahead of the match: “Man’s, he’s 40 years old."
But Joyce hit back: “Actually, 39. But near enough.”
Hrgovic, 32, said with a smile: “Okay, I didn’t know. If he’s 39 then he’s young.
“I thought you were 40. But, look, he’s definitely not at the peak of his career and fighters get old and that’s just the reality.
"I’m seven years younger and I think it’s going to play a role in this fight."
Joe Joyce and Filip Hrgovic in hilarious press conference exchange ahead of fight
Joyce vs Hrgovic highlights
The fight was marked by intense exchanges, with both boxers displaying resilience and power.
Hrgović got off to a quick start by using his deft combinations.
During the latter rounds, Joyce retaliated, becoming more aggressive and delivering powerful shots that put Hrgović's defense to the test.
Despite Joyce's best attempts, Hrgović recovered control in the later rounds and won by skillfully controlling the speed and distance. "
Joyce dismissed retirement calls
Before the match, Joyce said: “There’s no point writing someone off or telling them to retire, because I’m still active and I’m coming back.
“I’m getting back to the top.”
And even after suffering his fourth loss in his last five fights, the boxer batted away suggestions he should now call it a day.
He said: “Are you not entertained? It was a good fight and it was tough.
“He’s a great fighter, he’s been doing it a long time.”
Hrgovic's last five fights
Hrgovic has 18 wins with 14 of them by knockout under his belt.
The boxer only lost once when he fought Daniel Dubois in Riyadh last year.
April 5, 2025: Joe Joyce UD (W)
June 1, 2024: Daniel Dubois TKO (L)
December 23, 2023: Mark de Mori TKO (W)
August 12, 2023: Demsey McKean TKO (W)
August 20, 2022: Zhilei Zhang UD (W)
Fans call for Joyce to retire
One fan wrote: "Both Joyce and Chisora should’ve retired 2 years ago."
Another one added: "Joyce has to retire. Taking too much damage."
A third said: "Too many slaps to the head over the years - taken its toll on him… he needs to get out before he turns into a cabbage."
Meanwhile, someone else wrote: "I think if he team like him they let him quit.
"He's taken hundreds and hundreds of punches he shouldn't have had to take. He doesn't have a defence but his chin."
Fans fume over Adeleye's victory
Fans online have slammed the referee over Adeleye's victory.
One fan wrote: "Nothing against Adeleye, he did what he had to in the moment. But the ref needs questioning."
Another one said: "Disgusting decision. TKV was robbed, he was winning the fight up until that point.
"The ref said break and took hold of his hand and Adeleye hit him after the ref said break."
A third added: "That was embarrassing refereeing. The referee did everything to help Adelaye through the fight and the ending is terrible refereeing."
One user wrote: "Surely this gets called a no contest, I wouldn’t want to see that fight again but a rematch should be ordered and referee suspended."
Meanwhile, another added: "Fair play to Adeleye for not overplaying the win. The referee said break and grabbed TKV, though."
Controversial victory
Referee Ron Kearney called 'break' when both men were in the clinch in the sixth round after tapping Tshikeva's gloves.
However, Adeleye immediately floored his opponent with a huge left hook as Tshikeva's hands dropped.
Kearney gave a count as Tshikeva struggled back to his feet on wobbly knees, even though the shot landed long after the referee's intervention.
As he did, Adeleye stormed in and decked Tshikeva once again to end the match.
Asked if he will appeal the decision, TKV says: “We’ll see. We’ll keep working always.”
And Adeleye says: “I don’t want Jeamie getting no hate from my fans.”
View from ringside last night
Joe Joyce is finished as a top-tier heavyweight after another punishing defeat to Filip Hrgovic, writes Wally Downes Jr.
The 39-year-old Putney man is too tough and decent and brave to keep taking these beatings and is showing signs of decline which people around him must now address before it is too late.
The judges called it: 97-93, 96-95 and 98-92, confirming the fourth loss in five bouts for Joyce, who needs firm but fair advice.
Credit: Getty Joyce on retirement questions
Joe Joyce batted away the question as to whether he will now call it a day after suffering his fourth loss in his last five fights.
Asked if he would retire, Joyce said: “Are you not entertained? It was a good fight and it was tough.
“He’s a great fighter, he’s been doing it a long time.”
How the judges scored it
Filip Hrgovic won by a unanimous decision over Joe Joyce with all three of the judges scoring it in El Animal's favour.
- 97-93
- 96-95
- 98-92
Credit: Reuters Joyce's last five fights
Joe Joyce has now suffered four losses in his last five fights since his win over Joseph Parker in 2022.
April 2025 - Flip Hrgovic UD (L)
July 2024 - Derek Chisora UD (L)
March 2024 - Kash Ali KO (W)
Sept 2023 - Zhilei Zhang KO3 (L)
April 2023 - Zhilei Zhang TKO6 (L)
Sept 2022 - Joseph Parker KO11 (W)Hrgovic seeks Dubois rematch
Filip Hrgovic is after a rematch with IBF world champion Daniel Dubois up next.
Hrgovic roared: “This guy beat Dubois and I beat him so I want a rematch with Daniel Dubois.
“I did really bad in my last fight but congrats to him and he did a great job in his last fight. Of course I want to rematch him one day.”
Credit: Reuters Joyce not talking retirement
Joe Joyce batted away the questions whether he will now call it a day after suffering his fourth loss in his last five fights.
Asked if he would retire, Joyce said: “Are you not entertained? It was a good fight and it was tough.
“He’s a great fighter, he’s been doing it a long time.”
Credit: PA
How the fight ended
Hrgovic looked deflated And defeated by the start of round eight, after hitting Joyce with his best shots and not making a dent.
Joyce was battered at the end of round eight but his freakishly tough skull helped him survive again.
And the West Londoner was peppered again in the ninth, after his woeful coach insisted he “stop overthinking things”.
The Englishman was smacked and slapped again in the final session, when it had already become hard to watch and only the visitor celebrated at the final bell.
Ringside report
Joe Joyce is finished as a top-tier heavyweight after another punishing defeat to Filip Hrgovic, writes Wally Downes Jr.
The 39-year-old Putney man is too tough and decent and brave to keep taking these beatings and is showing signs of decline which people around him must now address before it is too late.
The judges called it: 97-93, 96-95 and 98-92, confirming the fourth loss in five bouts for Joyce, who needs firm but fair advice.
Joyce was slow and hittable from the opening Manchester bell, getting tagged from the off.
Hrgovic, 32, couldn't miss with almost every punch he threw but it was the Croatian bookies’ favourite who was cut over his left eye.
Credit: Getty Joyce refuses to retire
Asked if he will call it a day, Joyce says with a grin: "Are you not entertained? It was a good fight and it was tough.
"He's a great fighter, he's been doing it a long time."
Credit: Reuters Hrgovic wants Dubois rematch
He roars: "This guy beat Dubois and i beat him so I want a rematch with Daniel Dubois.
"I did really bad in my last fight but congrats to him and he did a great job in his last fight. Of course I want to rematch him one day."
Credit: Getty