EDDIE HEARN has warned to expect an early night when Joe Joyce puts his career on the line against Filip Hrgovic.
Hrgovic travels to Manchester as a late replacement after Dillian Whyte pulled out due to a finger injury.
@QueensberryJoe Joyce facing off with Filip Hrgovic[/caption]
Joyce returns following a punishing points loss to Derek Chisora last July in what is a make-or-break night at the Co-op Live arena.
But Hearn told The Stomping Ground: “If you want a prediction he (Joyce) will get well beaten on Saturday and it will be inside three or four rounds, I think.”
Hrgovic, 32, was unbeaten in 17 fights before meeting Daniel Dubois, 27, in Riyadh in June.
After a fast start, he was later stopped in eight rounds with Dubois crowned the interim IBF champion.
Dubois was later elevated to the full title after Oleksandr Usyk, 38, vacated the strap to proceed with his rematch against Tyson Fury, 36.
He then defended it with a September knockout against Anthony Joshua, 35.
Hrgovic now returns after his first loss to face Joyce, who was stopped twice by Zhilei Zhang, 41, in 2023.
And Hearn said: “Joe has always been slow in the ring, he’s never looked like this sensational skilled fighter.
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“In the past he’s been extremely tough, he can whack, he’s a big lump, he’s got a great chin.
“As his career has progressed the punch resistance has changed.
“Shots from Chisora that hurt him would never have hurt him before, the two Zhang defeats, thousands of rounds of sparring have been a problem.”
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