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Joe Joyce Falls to Filip Hrgovic in Unanimous Decision
In a highly anticipated boxing match in Manchester, Joe Joyce faced off against Filip Hrgovic, ultimately losing by unanimous decision. This bout marked Joyce’s return to the ring following his defeat to Derek Chisora in July 2024.
The fight was closely contested, with Hrgovic gradually establishing control. Judges scored the contest 97-93, 96-95, and 98-92 in favor of Hrgovic after ten rounds of action. Joyce, aged 39, sought to revitalize his career amidst challenges, having faced three losses in his last four bouts.
Initially, Joyce was set to compete against fellow Briton Dillian Whyte, but an injury to Whyte led to Hrgovic stepping in on short notice. Hrgovic, at 32 years old, had not fought since his loss to Daniel Dubois in June, which was his first professional defeat following an unbeaten streak of 18 matches. With this victory over Joyce, Hrgovic’s record improves to 18 wins and 1 loss.
After the match, when questioned about the prospect of retirement given his recent struggles, Joyce responded with determination. “Are you not entertained? It was a good fight and it was tough,” he remarked. He acknowledged Hrgovic as a formidable opponent, suggesting a willingness to face him again in the future.
On the other hand, Hrgovic expressed interest in a rematch with Dubois. “This guy beat Dubois and I beat him, so I want a rematch with Daniel Dubois,” he stated. He reflected on his previous match, stating, “I did really bad in my last fight but congrats to him; he did a great job in his last fight. Of course, I want to rematch him one day.” Hrgovic also praised Joyce’s resilience, noting, “This guy is like steel; I couldn’t believe he took all the shots. He’s a tough guy, a beast, very strong.”
The fight itself began with Hrgovic landing several powerful shots early on. However, a clash of heads resulted in a cut above Hrgovic’s left eye, which bled profusely and seemed to embolden Joyce to engage in more exchanges. As the rounds progressed, Joyce found success, particularly in the eighth round. However, a powerful left hook from Hrgovic at the end of that round and a subsequent attack in the ninth severely compromised Joyce’s ability to defend himself, leading to his eventual defeat.
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Source
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