Heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic (17-1, 14 COs) will come in as the replacement opponent for Joe Joyce (16-3, 15 COs) to fight on April 5 at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester, England.
Olympic bronze medalist HRGOVIC in 2016 will arrive in Riyadh on June 1 at an eighth round loss of Daniel Dubois. Hrgovic landed some large right bombs in the first five rounds of that fight, but Dubois walked through them and wore him with his hard shots.
A nightmare match
Joyce’s best chance of winning on April 5 is if Hrgovic’s punching resistance received a hit of his loss of Dubois. If so, he has a chance. I don’t see that happening. Poor Joe. This is a nightmare substitute for Joyce because HRGOVIC is at talent at this stage of his career. Joe lost three of his last four battles and was beaten by the 40-year-old Derek Chisora by a unanimous decision of 10 round in his previous battle on July 27, 2024.
Chisora dropped Joyce in the seventh round and landed power shots at will. The fight showed how much Joyce lost from his game since his two knockout losses against Zhilei Zhang. Hrgovic would wipe the deck with a slow suitcase like Chisora. It would be too easy. Of course, Derek would never fight against him, because unlike Joyce and Otto Wallin, Hrgovic is still fighting at a high level and he can hit.
HRGOVIC, 32, is the sub that replaced the injured Dillian Whyte, which pulled a hand disease out of the competition. It is unclear whether Dillian got a doctor’s note to verify the injury and whether X-rays were shown.
The amateur past
Joyce beat Hrgovic with a five-round decision on February 7, 2013 in the World Series of Boxing, many years ago in the amateurs. Many have changed since then. ‘The Juggernaut’ Joyce is much older – 39 – Slave, and worn of the fighter who beat Hrgovic 12 years ago.
Hrgovic in line to stand Joyce on April 5‼ ️@Filip_hrgovic was reportedly set up to replace Dillian Whyte and Face @Youjoyceboxing On April 5 in Manchester.
Joyce beat Hrgovic in the amateurs in 2013.
Do you want to see that battle? 🤔#JOYCEHRGOVIC | … pic.twitter.com/9mmdga67hl
– IFL TV (@ifltv) 5 March 2025
Last updated on 03/05/2025
 will step in as the replacement opponent for Joe Joyce (16-3, 15 KOs) to fight on April 5th at the Co-op){kind=link}