The start of new era arrives for boxing tonight (Saturday April 5) with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions starting a new long-term relationship with streaming platform DAZN – and Filip Hrgovic vs Joe Joyce is the perfect starter.
Warren decided to make the jump to DAZN after a long and successful association with TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport), one which notably saw all of Tyson Fury’s fights since his epic comeback in 2018 air on the platform in the UK.
DAZN: Sign up to watch Hrgovic vs Joyce LIVE!
Now a new era starts for the Hall of Fame promoter, who takes his powerful stable to the same platform as one Eddie Hearn and Matchroom. Paving the way for even more huge fights to come.
Hrgovic vs Joyce is a cracker to start with – two men desperately trying to muscle their way back into the world heavyweight title picture after damaging losses.
When is Hrgovic vs Joyce?
The bout it set for tonight (Saturday April 5) in Manchester, England – and ring walks for the main event are expected to take place around 2200 local UK time (2300 CET, 1700 Eastern Standard Time in the US or 1400 PST if you are watching on the West Coast.
Coverage of the main card is due to begin at 1900 local time (2000 CET, 1400 Easter, 1100 PST).
How to watch, TV channel and live stream
As we said, this is the first show on a massive new partnership between DAZN and Warren’s Queensberry Promotions. It is not though a PPV promotion so existing subscribers to the streaming platform can watch for no extra cost.
If you’re not yet a DAZN subscriber, an Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 (for 12 months access), while a Monthly Flex Pass is £24.99 per month (cancel any time).
In the US an annual subscription can be paid as a $224.99 upfront one-off cost while the monthly cost is $29.99.
In Australia an annual DAZN subscription is $149.99 up front or you can pay $14.99 each month.
What are the odds?
Hrgovic is a 3/10 favourite with British oddsmakers, with Joyce a 3/1 underdog. The Draw is a best-priced 22/1.
Hrgovic vs Joyce weights
The weigh-in for the big fight took place in Manchester on Friday lunchtime (April 4). Joyce tipped the scales at 275lbs – 19lbs heavier than for his last outing against Dereck Chisora. Hrgovic meanwhile looked good at 250lbs – just 3lbs heavier than for his loss to Daniel Dubois last summer.
Filip Hrgovic record
The huge Croat – known as ‘El Animal’ was on the brink of a world title shot until he was taken apart by now IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in a brutal encounter in London last summer. That dropped the 32-year-old from Zagreb to 17-1 in the paid ranks – 14 of those wins coming inside distance.
Before that loss the heavy-handed Hrgovic – who stands 6ft 6ins (1.98m) tall, had showcased his power and 82ins (2.08m) reach to great effect, blasting out allcomers en route to a high ranking with most of the sport’s governing bodies.
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Filip had become probably the most avoided fighter in the division until Dubois accepted the challenge last summer, and blasted out Hrgovic in stunning fashion.
Now Croatia’s big hope for heavyweight glory must regroup, and he must start the road back to the top with a victory.
Joe Joyce record
Joyce is similar to Hrgovic in many ways – a brutal and powerful force who many big names in the heavyweight division avoided for so long. The former Great Britain Olympic star was the immovable object of this weight class as he pounded his way to a 15-0 record and the brink of a world heavyweight title shot.
That rise to stardom came with two highlight-reel victories – a knockout victory over Dubois back in 2020 and then a brutal demolition job on the game Joseph Parker in 2022. It appeared ‘The Juggernaut’ could not be stopped and a world title shot beckoned – but then he ran into his Kryptonite in the shape of Chinese giant Zhilei Zhang. Two back-to-back losses later, he was trying to resurrect those world title dreams.
A third loss for Joyce came in his last fight – a unanimous decision against the British warhorse that is Dereck Chisora last July. Now at the age of 39, time is running short for Joyce at the highest level and this could be last-chance saloon for any lingering title hopes.
In terms of size, Joyce is almost identical to Hrgovic – standing 6ft 6ins (1.98m) tall with a reach of 80ins (2.03m).
Hrgovic vs Joyce undercard and running order
We have a deep undercard for Saturday night’s show at the Co-Op Arena in Manchester:
- David Adeleye vs Jeamie Tshikeva; Heavyweight, for the vacant British heavyweight title
- Jack Rafferty vs Cory O’Regan; Super lightweight, for the Commonwealth title
- Delicious Orie vs Milos Veletic; Heavyweight
- Khaleel Majid vs Alex Murphy; Super lightweight
- Royston Barney-Smith vs TBA; Featherweight
- Mark Chamberlain vs Miguel Angel Scaringi; Super lightweight
- Nelson Birchall vs TBA; Welterweight
- Ramtin Musah vs Robbie Chapman; Light heavyweight
- Louis Szeto vs Nabil Ahmed; Super bantamweight
- Alfie Middlemiss vs Alexander Morales; Featherweight
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