April 5: Joe Joyce vs Filip Hrgovic
‘The Juggernaut’ Joe Joyce (16-3, 15KO) next fight against Filip Hrgovic (17-1, 14KO) has been officially confirmed by Queensberry Promotions. The heavyweights will lock horns on April 5th at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, live on DAZN.
The Putney puncher was due to fight British rival Dillian Whyte, but ‘The Bodysnatcher’ was forced to withdraw through a hand injury.
With a month to go still, the 39-year-old decided to continue with the fight date, and his replacement opponent is just as good a match for fight fans to watch.
Joyce has lost three from his last four outings, after previously holding the WBO #1 position for a lengthy duration in 2022.
While the Olympic silver medallist patiently awaited his shot at the word title, he ended up conceding his WBO Interim word heavyweight title and mandatory position to Chinese powerhouse, Zhilei Zhang, when the Brit lost back to back fights to him in 2023.
The Londoner rebuilt with a win in March 2024 against Kash Ali, only to lose to Derek Chisora in the next stage of his comeback in July last year.
Joyce vs Hrgovic reignites a decade-long rivalry. The outstanding amateurs clashed in the World Series Boxing back in 2013, which Joyce emerged from victorious.
He edged Hrgovic in a close contest on a split decision verdict at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, England.
Croatian ‘Animal’ Hrgovic, 32, ended his tenure in the WSB, which stretched from 2010-15, with a fine record of 25-4, with 10 knockouts.
His sole career defeat as a professional came at the hands of Daniel Dubois in June 2026, who snatched the IBF Interim world heavyweight title that was on the line, which he later upgraded to the full world title legitimately by beating Anthony Joshua in his next fight.
As professionals, they both reached No. 1 in the world rankings – Joyce with the WBO, Hrgovic with the IBF.
Lawrence Okolie vs Richard Riakporhe has also been thwarted by an injury. The two-weight world champion, Okolie, withdrew yesterday. It’s unclear whether Riakporhe will continue with a different opponent as of now.