Joe Joyce is going heavy duty again for his must-win heavyweight showdown vs Filip Hrgovic on Saturday night (April 5) as big-time boxing hits Manchester.
The former British Olympic star, once the WBO interim world heavyweight champion after starting his pro career 15-0, is now in last chance saloon at elite level after losing three of his last four fights.
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The 39-year-old (16-3) clearly believes that bulk will be key to beating late stand-in Hrgovic, after he tipped the scales at 275lbs (19st 9lbs) at Friday’s weigh-in in Manchester. Joe had been 278 and 287 for his back-to-back losses to Chinese man mountain Zhilei Zhang in 2023, but just 256 for his defeat by Dereck Chisora in 2024.
Hrgovic meanwhile (17-1 with 14 wins inside distance) looked in good shape despite only getting a late call for this after Dillian Whyte pulled out with a hand injury. He weighed in at 250lbs (17st 12lbs), around 3lbs heavier than he had been for his last fight against Daniel Dubois.
Hrgovic had also looked to be en route for a title shot before dropping his first professional L in a stoppage defeat by Dubois, and now he too is looking for much-needed redemption.
Start time and how to watch live
The TV portion of the show in Manchester starts at 1900 local time on Saturday (2000 CET, 1400 Eastern, 1100 Pacific). Ring walks for that Hrgovic vs Joyce main event are expected at around 2200 local time (2300 CET, 1700 Eastern, 1400 Pacific).
The show will be streamed live by DAZN – it is the first show of a massive new link-up with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions.
Undercard weigh-in results
Weights for the rest of Saturday night’s card are also in, and here they are:
The vacant British Heavyweight Championship – 12 x 3 Minute Rounds
David Adeleye – 239lbs 13oz
Jeamie Tshikeva – 254lbs 9oz
The Commonwealth Super-Lightweight Championship – 12 x 3 Minute Rounds
Jack Rafferty – 139lbs 12oz
Cory O’Regan – 139lbs 1oz
4 x 3 Minute Rounds Heavyweight Contest
Delicious Orie – 245lbs 9oz
Milos Veletic – 293lbs 8oz
10 x 3 Minute Rounds Super-Lightweight Contest
Khaleel Majid – 139lbs 12oz
Alex Murphy – 139lbs 13oz
10 x 3 Minute Rounds Cruiserweight Contest
Juergen Uldedaj – 199lbs 1oz
Gerardo Mellado – 196lbs 2oz
8 x 3 Minute Rounds Super-Featherweight Contest
Royston Barney-Smith – 132lbs 9oz
Cesar Ignacio Paredes – 132lbs 5oz
8 x 3 Minute Rounds Super-Lightweight Contest
Mark Chamberlain – 143lbs 11oz
Miguel Angel Scaringi – 143lbs 11oz
6 x 3 Minute Rounds Featherweight Contest
Nelson Birchall – 127lbs 11oz
Rodrigo Matias Areco – 129lbs 6oz
4 x 3 Minute Rounds Light-Heavyweight Contest
Ramtin Musah – 168lbs 2oz
Robbie Chapman – 170lbs 5oz
4 x 3 Minute Rounds Bantamweight Contest
Louis Szeto – 117lbs 5oz
Nabil Ahmed – 117lbs 3oz
4 x 3 Minute Rounds Featherweight Contest
Alfie Middlemiss – 127lbs 2oz
Alexander Morales – 128lbs 4oz
