Time waits for no man in heavyweight boxing, and on Saturday night in Manchester it is last chance saloon at the very top table for Filip Hrgovic and Joe Joyce.
Two years ago these two men were both unbeaten and both pushing hard for world title shots in the fight game’s marquee weight class, but since then much water has passed under the bridge.
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Joyce (now 16-3) was 15-0 and coming off brutal demolition jobs on current IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois and former WBO king Joseph Parker. ‘The Juggernaut’ was unstoppable, or so it appeared. But then he ran into Chinese man mountain Zhilei Zhang, and found his own boxing Kryptonite. Back-to-back losses ensued and from being on the brink of a world title shot, everything was in question.
A third loss for Joyce last year, at the hands of veteran warhorse Dereck Chisora, left Joe very much on the outside looking in when it comes to world title contention.
Hrgovic meanwhile was the heavyweight division’s most avoided man in the summer of 2024, a powerful puncher with a 17-0 record and a massive future. Then his career went off the rails when he was stopped by Dubois in a blockbuster in Saudi Arabia.
Now the two men meet each other with redemption and the road back to the top on the agenda, it’s a fitting way for Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions to begin it’s massive new partnership with streaming platform DAZN.
Hrgovic says Joyce age WILL be a factor
Saturday night will tell us which one of these two men still have the potential to get back into world title content, and Hrgovic has zero doubts who it will be – for one major reason.
“Man he is 40 years old. If he is 39 then he is young, I didn’t know that,” said the man from Zagreb at the final fight week press conference.
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“Look, he is definitely not in the peak of his career, fighters get older and that is the reality, I am seven years younger. I think it will play a role in this fight.”
The 32-year-old Hrgovic was a late stand-in for this one, getting the nod to face Joyce after original opponent Dillian Whyte pulled out with a hand injury. He sees it as a golden opportunity to put his name back into the mix in the heavyweight division.
“It was short notice, a few weeks, but I was already in good shape. That is why I accepted this fight and I think this is a good opportunity for me. This win, hopefully on Saturday, brings me back to the top and it is good to be part of this.
“Thanks to Queensberry and DAZN and I am looking forward to the win on Saturday, to knock him out and get back to the top. That is the plan. My motivation is big, for sure. I want to be back at the top and, like Frank said, the loser will be in a very bad position. I don’t want to lose.
Joyce promises Hrgovic repeat
While Hrgovic is exuding confidence heading into this one, Joyce is also talking big as he bids to repeat the amateur success he notched over the big Croat back in 2013. That split decision over five rounds was a cracking scrap, one which bodes well for fireworks come Saturday night.
Joyce said: “It is a great fight, entertainment, and I expect a great performance. It is good to share the ring with Hrgovic again, we had a good scrap last time about 12 years ago. The same result is going to happen, I’m going to win and then get elevated back up to the top of the sport. I am really excited to be here again, there is a lot of excitement here and it is going to be a great night of boxing.
“I know exactly what to expect from him and I have worked with Abel (trainer, Sanchez) before. He’s got a lot of mileage and has been in the sport a long time and had a lot of hard fights. I look forward to knocking him out on Saturday night.”
