Hrgović defeats Joyce by unanimous decision

Croatian top boxer Filip Hrgović defeated Britain's Joe Joyce by unanimous decision (97-93, 96-95, 98-92) at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena as part of Queensberry's "Heavy Impact" event.

Filip Hrgović won an important victory in a tense 10-round fight that returns him to the boxing elite.

It was a clash of two boxers who were looking for a chance to return to the upper house of the heavyweight division.

A former interim WBO heavyweight champion, Joe Joyce was hoping to bounce back after three defeats in his last four fights, losing twice to China's Zhilei Zhang in April and September 2023, while Hrgović was looking to return to winning ways after losing to Daniel Dubois for the first time in his career last December.

It was their second match after they met in London in 2013 in an amateur fight, with Joyce winning by split decision.

Interestingly, both men won medals in the super heavyweight category at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Hrgović won bronze, and Joyce won silver after both were defeated by Frenchman Tony Yoka.

Hrgović started out more firmly and directly. He landed several nice punches on his opponent and was far better in the opening round. In the second round, Hrgović was better at the beginning, and Joyce at the end. The Briton opened a cut over Hrgović's yes. Joyce increased the pace in the third round, but the Croatian boxer used the opportunities to counter, either with direct hits or hooks.

Hrgović went into the fourth round with determination and again found the head of the seven-year-older Briton with two good directs. Joyce tried to increase the pressure in the fifth round, but Hrgović parried well. The sixth round did not bring much excitement, while in the seventh Hrgović left a slightly better impression.

In the eighth round, both heavyweights looked quite tired, but the end of the round brought several exchanges of blows. The ninth round was quite open, and Hrgović landed several excellent blows.

In the last round, both boxers tried to land powerful blows. Joyce was better in the first half of the round, and Hrgović in the end. The impression was that Hrgović landed cleaner blows, and Joyce more and more often.

In the end, the judges ruled the victory to the Croatian boxer by unanimous decision.

Hrgović was last in the ring in June 2024 in Riyadh, when he lost to Daniel Dubois by technical knockout in the eighth round in a fight for the IBF interim title. It was his first loss in his professional career in the 18th match.

Source: HRT