Joe Joyce will enter Saturday’s make-or-break heavyweight contest with Filip Hrgovic with a leaner frame after weighing in at 275.1lbs.
He was a career-lightest 256lbs when he recorded his first ever defeat, by Zhilei Zhang in April 2023. He then weighed in at over 281lbs – a then career-heaviest – for their rematch that September.
Joyce, 39, was an even heavier 286.5lbs when he defeated Kash Ali in March 2024, and again just over 281lbs when he lost to Derek Chisora four months later.
The heavy-handed 32-year-old Hrgovic, from Croatia, perhaps represents an even more potent opponent, but Joyce appears to have attempted to be slightly lighter on his feet, and he told Queensberry Promotions: “Juggernaut 2.0, here I am. On the scales, of muscle, bone, and desire to get back to the top of the sport. This is why I’m here.”
Joyce referenced his victory over Joseph Parker – the finest of his career – in 2022 when he weighed just over 271lbs when he said: “I got that winning formula. I’m coming; I’m here. Don’t miss it.”
“I’m glad to be here,” said Hrgovic, who replaced the injured Dillian Whyte at relatively late notice. “I feel great, and can’t wait. It wasn’t my best in my last fight [a defeat by Daniel Dubois]. I’m ready.”
By the time of the opening bell for the main event between Joyce and Hrgovic at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England, David Adeleye and Jamie Tshikeva will have contested the British heavyweight title, and the heavyweight Delicious Orie will have made his professional debut, against Milos Veletic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Complete weigh-in results
Heavyweight – 10 rounds
Joe Joyce (275.1bs) vs Filip Hrgovic (250.6lbs)
British heavyweight title – 12 rounds
David Adeleye (239.13lbs) vs Jamie Tshikeva (254.9lbs)
Commonwealth junior-welterweight title – 12 rounds
Jack Rafferty (139.12lbs) vs Cory O’Regan (139.1lbs)
Heavyweight – four rounds
Delicious Orie (245.9lbs) vs Milos Veletic (293.8lbs)
Cruiserweight – 10 rounds
Juergen Uldedaj (199.1lbs) vs Gerardo Mellado (196.2lbs)
Light heavyweight – four rounds
Ramtin Musah (168.2lbs) vs Robbie Chapman (170.5lbs)
Junior welterweight – 10 rounds
Alex Murphy (139.13lbs) vs Khaleel Majid (139.12lbs)
Junior welterweight – eight rounds
Mark Chamberlain (143.11lbs) vs Miguel Angel Scaringi (143.11lbs)
Junior lightweight – eight rounds
Royston Barney-Smith (132.9lbs) vs Cesar Ignacio Paredes (132.5lbs)
Featherweight – six rounds
Nelson Birchall (127.11lbs) vs Rodrigo Matias Areco (129.6lbs)
Featherweight – four rounds
Alexander Morales (128.4lbs) vs Alfie Middlemiss (127.2lbs)
Bantamweight – four rounds
Louis Szeto (117.5lbs) vs Nabil Ahmed (117.3lbs)