MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – Filip Hrgovic believes Joe Joyce should walk away from the sport before he receives further damage.

Hrgovic will face Joyce tonight at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England, in a contest that will leave the loser staring retirement in the face. Hrgovic, 32, was stopped in June by Daniel Dubois for the IBF interim title and defeat to Joyce would leave the Croatian at the bottom of the pile of heavyweight contenders.

Joyce, now 39 years old, has faced calls to walk away from the sport after sustaining a large amount of punishment both as an amateur and professional. Joyce, "The Juggernaut", was long known for his granite chin and ability to soak up punches before dishing out his own. That, however, seems to have changed.

In Spetember 2023, Joyce faced Chinese powerhouse Zhilei Zhang for the second time [five months after Joyce was stopped in the first contest due to swelling on his right eye socket] and that granite chin looked to have cracked. Joyce had not been down in his professional career before then but Zhang landed a right hook that sent Joyce face-first into the canvas and the fight was waved off.

It seemed as though the punches Joyce had taken across his boxing career had finally caught up with the aging heavyweight. Joyce returned in what was supposed to be a routine win against domestic-level fighter Kash Ali in March last year but failed to impress before stopping his opponent in the 10th and final round. Joyce then faced Derek Chisora four months later and had another troublesome night at the office.

Joyce was outworked by the 40-year-old Chisora and even found himself flat on his back in Round 9. Joyce returned to his feet but lost a unanimous decision, leaving his future uncertain at best.

Retirement is not something Joyce considered, but his opponent on Saturday believes he really should have. 

“[Joyce] should retire, man, because punches are not vitamins,” Hrgovic told BoxingScene. “You have life after boxing. Don't stay too long.

“I think he's on a downfall. He had three losses in a row almost and he's old. We are getting older, 40 years. It's a lot and you're getting slower. So I think he's not in the best shape of his life, but he's still tough. He's still a very good engine, throws a lot of punches, very determined. So I expect a good fight.”

Hrgovic also believes that The Juggernaut’s chin is not what it once was.

“Yeah, I think it's starting to fade, his punch resistance,” he said. “Like I said, we're getting older, a lot of fights, a lot of punches. So his style was famous for his style that he received a lot of punches. Even the fights where he won, he received punches, he didn't move his head. And in amateurs as well, he was receiving a lot of punches. So, I mean, he achieved a lot with his attitude, with his style. But in the end, you need to pay the price. Punches are not vitamins.”

Saturday will not be the first time Hrgovic has faced Joyce in a boxing ring. The pair met first met during their time as amateur boxers back in 2013 in the World Series of Boxing (WSB). Joyce won that night, and even won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics, while Hrgovic took bronze.

Saturday night provides Hrgovic with an opportunity to get his own back on his old amateur rival.

“Yeah, I need to take revenge,” said Hrgovic. “I need to get revenge. He defeated me. It was a split decision. It was a close fight. He surprised me in that fight with his pace, with his jab, but now I know what to expect and I think I'm a better fighter.”

Victory on Saturday will not only give Hrgovic the revenge he seeks but catapult him back into the mix with the top dogs of the heavyweight division.

“I just want to win,” he said. “I just want to win and I want, after this fight, hopefully to get in there with the biggest names right now in the division, and hopefully get another chance to fight for a heavyweight title. That's my goal.”