Filip Hrgovic Hands Joe Joyce His Fourth Loss in Five Fights

Filip Hrgovic made a big statement this weekend, stopping Joe Joyce in the final seconds of the third round at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This marks Joyce’s fourth defeat in his last five outings, raising serious questions about his future in the heavyweight division.

Hrgovic (now 18-0, 15 KOs) came out sharp, landing heavy shots early and often. Joyce (17-4, 16 KOs) showed his usual grit, but the speed and power difference were clear from the start. Hrgovic wobbled Joyce in the second round and sealed the deal in the third, with referee John Latham stepping in after Joyce took a series of clean, unanswered punches.

The victory positions Hrgovic for a shot at the IBF heavyweight title, depending on how the undisputed situation between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk unfolds. If the belt becomes vacant, Hrgovic could face either Anthony Joshua or Daniel Dubois, depending on upcoming match outcomes.

For Joyce, the road back looks tough. At 38 years old and with major losses piling up — including back-to-back defeats to Zhilei Zhang, a controversial win over Kash Ali, and now this stoppage — time is not on his side.

Still, fans respect Joyce’s willingness to take on dangerous opponents. But after another punishing loss, many are wondering if it’s time for "The Juggernaut" to consider retirement or a serious career reset.