JOE JOYCE is finished as a top-tier heavyweight after another punishing defeat to Filip Hrgovic.
The 39-year-old Putney man is too tough and decent and brave to keep taking these beatings.
GettyJoe Joyce took a pummelling as he was well beaten by Filip Hrgovic[/caption]
GettyThe ace’s time as a top-tier heavyweight is over[/caption]
ReutersHrgovic won on points in a one-sided clash[/caption]
Joyce could not keep up with the Croatian’s paceReuters
And he is showing signs of decline which people around him must now address before it is too late.
The judges called it: 97-93, 96-95 and 98-92, confirming the fourth loss in five bouts for Joyce, who needs firm but fair advice.
Joyce was slow and hittable from the opening Manchester bell, getting tagged from the off.
Hrgovic, 32, couldn’t miss with almost every punch he threw but it was the Croatian bookies’ favourite who was cut over his left eye.
Joyce’s punch-eating hobby was evident again in the second, when Hrgovic was free to ping his braided skull.
But Hrgovic – whose only previous loss came on cuts against Daniel Dubois – was leaking blood again at an alarming rate.
Slow Joe woke up in round three and showed some of his 2016 Olympic silver pedigree.
But Hrgovic’s hands were too fast and accurate for our Brit in the fourth.
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After hopes of early KO faded, a quick exit became the second-best outcome but the 10-round fight trudged into the second half.
Hrgovic looked deflated and defeated by the start of round eight, after hitting Joyce with his best shots and not making a dent.
Joyce was battered at the end of round eight but his freakishly tough skull helped him survive again.
And the West Londoner was peppered again in the ninth, after his woeful coach insisted he “stop overthinking things”.
And the Englishman was smacked and slapped again in the final session, when it had already become hard to watch and only the visitor celebrated at the final bell.
After the fight, even Joyce’s own promoter Frank Warren urged him to “have a serious think about his future”.
The Queensbury chief said: “Joe has got to go and have a serious think about the future.
“He’ll sit down and have a think and we’ll plan for the future whatever he decides.”
But when asked about retirement, Joyce joked: “Are you not entertained? It was a good fight and it was tough.
“He’s a great fighter, he’s been doing it a long time.”
Meanwhile Hrgovic had his sights set on a rematch with IBF champ Daniel Dubois.
The Croat said: “This guy beat Dubois and I beat him so I want a rematch with Daniel Dubois.
“I did really bad in my last fight but congrats to him and he did a great job in his last fight. Of course I want to rematch him one day.”
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