MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – Filip Hrgovic added another nail in the coffin of Joe Joyce’s career by defeating him via unanimous decision. Only time will tell if it was the final one.

Hrgovic, 18-1 (14 KOs), squared off with Joyce at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England, in a contest that surely spelled the end for the loser. Hrgovic, a late replacement after original opponent Dillian Whyte withdrew from the contest due to an injured finger, was able to land the more telling blows and deservedly took the fight by scores of 97-93, 98-92 and 96-95.

Joyce, 16-4 (15 KOs) with all defeats coming in his most recent five fights, was asked the dreaded question: Would he continue in the sport?

“Are you not entertained?” he joked. But this stage of any boxer's career is no laughing matter.

Frank Warren was more open about the possibility of retirement for the now 39-year-old Joyce.

“He needs to have a think about what he has to do, but there is no rush,” Warren said.

The opening round was an entertaining affair. Both men wasted no time and let their hands go. Joyce thudded in a right hand that opened up a cut above Hrgovic’s right eye. The traveling Croatian seemed unfazed by the damage and whipped in a left hook shortly after that seemed to daze Joyce, at least momentarily.

Hrgovic, 32, pushed the action in the second. He slammed home a right hand to the chin of Joyce but his old amateur rival shook it off like it was nothing. Hrgovic followed it with another but it brought the same reaction.

Joyce came out for the third with greater intent, pressing Hrgovic back and thudding in a stiff left jab and right hand. Hrgovic, blood smeared across his face, looked to be struggling with the intensity and work rate of Joyce, but had success of his own before the round came to a close.

As Joyce came in to land another right hand, Hrgovic connected with one of his own that crashed against the side of Joyce’s face and forced him to stumble forwards. Joyce look hurt but the bell sounded before Hrgovic was able to land another telling blow.

Hrgovic again scored with a right early into the fourth, but Joyce responded well and pinned his opponent against the ropes, smashing home shots to Hrgovic’s body and head. By the fifth, Joyce seemed to have come to terms with Hrgovic’s power and marched forwards, pinning the Croatian in the corner and, again, bashed away at him with both hands.

Hrgovic finished the round strong, landing two big right hands that pushed Joyce back, but “The Juggernaut” came marching back for more. Joyce seemed to hurt Hrgovic in the sixth. He stepped in with his jab and lashed a right hand that found a home on the chin of Hrgovic. The Croatian grabbed hold of Joyce and seemed happy to hear the sound of the bell a few seconds later.

Hrgovic landed his left hook in the seventh, timing Joyce as he came in, catching him multiple times with the shot. Those blows, however, seemed to bounce off his head and Joyce would return fire with shots of his own moments later.

Joyce again marched on in the eighth but Hrgovic caught him with perhaps the best shot of the fight so far. He turned over a right hand that landed flush on Joyce’s chin. The aging heavyweight stumbled back and Hrgovic unleashed a vicious combination with every shot landing square on Joyce’s head.

The bell sounded and Joyce walked back to his corner, seemingly unaffected, by any of the hard shots that he had just received. Hrgovic had his best round of the fight in the ninth; he threw everything at Joyce in an attempt to finish strong. Again, and again, he landed his right hand and left hook but he just could not stop Joyce in his tracks. The 39-year-old ate the blasts but it seemed as though he too was feeling the pace.

Both heavyweights seemed exhausted as they came out for the 10th and final round. Joyce tried to push on but it was Hrgovic who found the energy to take the round. He smashed home a right hand with 20 seconds remaining that seemed to daze Joyce momentarily - but the Croatian just didn't have the energy to follow it up.

At the sound of the bell the former amateur rivals embraced and awaited the decision. Hrgovic’s team went crazy as the Croatian’s name was read out by the master of ceremonies Thomas Triver.

A big win on short notice for Hrgovic which puts him back in the mix.

Joyce's future, however, remains uncertain.