Filip Hrgovic restored his credentials as a heavyweight contender with a grueling unanimous-decision win over British veteran Joe Joyce on Saturday night at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England. Hrgovic (18-1, 14 KOs) came in on four weeks' notice as an injury replacement for Dillian Whyte, taking on a considerable challenge in his first fight back after losing to Daniel Dubois last June. The scores were 97-93, 96-95, and 98-92.
The fight began explosively as Hrgovic landed several big shots over the top, but a clash of heads left the Croatian with a cut above the left eye. Blood seeped down Hrgovic's face, giving Joyce confidence to trade, although his right eye was swelling up by the fourth round. The slugfest continued throughout, with Joyce enjoying success in the eighth. However, he was hurt by a big left hook at the end of the round and another attack in the ninth buckled the Briton's knees.
Hrgovic, who claimed the WBO international title with this victory, found a home for his right hand on Joyce's chin early in the fight, landing with frequency and power. Joyce, 39, however, was largely unfazed by the clean shots connecting on him and managed to bounce back in the mid-rounds as a tired Hrgovic sought refuge on the ropes, allowing himself to be outworked by the Brit at close range.
Just as Joyce seemed to be taking control, Hrgovic found a second wind, producing a strong finish that led to his hand being raised at the end of 10 grueling rounds. This loss marks a worrying trend for Joyce, as it was his fourth defeat in his last five fights, raising questions about his future in the sport.
In the night's chief support, David Adeleye (14-1, 13 KOs) won the vacant British heavyweight championship with a sixth-round TKO of Jeamie "TKV" Tshikeva (8-2, 5 KOs). The ending was controversial, as Tshikeva was dropped by a left hook from Adeleye just after referee Ron Kearney called "break." Adeleye took advantage of the situation, landing a devastating shot that floored Tshikeva.
Despite the controversy surrounding the stoppage, Adeleye's victory will likely set him up for bigger fights in the heavyweight division. After the fight, Adeleye expressed his desire to continue climbing the ranks and prove himself further.
In other notable matches from the event, Jack Rafferty defeated Cory O'Regan via fifth-round TKO in a dominant performance. Rafferty came in like a wrecking ball, busting O'Regan's nose wide open with a right hand that had bad intentions. Blood poured everywhere as Rafferty went to work, landing body shots that folded O'Regan in half and ultimately forcing his corner to throw in the towel.
Delicious Orie made a successful pro debut, defeating Milos Veletic by points (40-36) after a solid performance. While it wasn't flashy, Orie controlled the fight with steady output and fundamental boxing.
Khaleel Majid edged Alex Murphy in a razor-thin unanimous decision (97-94, 96-94, 96-95) after ten rounds of relentless, high-tempo action. This was not a slow burn; both fighters let their hands go, trading at a furious pace and refusing to give ground. Majid's grit in the final round sealed the deal, landing sharp rights to the body and head.
Royston Barney-Smith cruised past Cesar Ignacio Paredes, taking a clean sweep on the cards with an 80-72 points win. Mark Chamberlain also won decisively, shutting out Miguel Angel Scaringi with another 80-72 points victory.
In the welterweight division, Nelson Birchall stopped Rodrigo Matias Areco in the first round via TKO, while Ramtin Musah outpointed Robbie Chapman 40-36 without much fuss. Louis Szeto edged Nabil Ahmed 38-37 on points in a close super bantamweight scrap, and Alfie Middlemiss defeated Alexander Morales with a 40-36 win on points.
The event took place on Saturday, April 5, 2025, starting at 5 p.m. GMT and featuring several exciting bouts that showcased both established and up-and-coming talent in the boxing world.
As for Hrgovic, his victory re-establishes him as a contender in the heavyweight division, and he is now likely to pursue a rematch with Daniel Dubois, who was seated ringside and has been linked to a title shot. Meanwhile, Joyce must reflect on his career trajectory as he faces significant challenges ahead.
