Joe Joyce has been urged to retire after struggling a defeat to Filip Hrgovic on Saturday.
Since an awesome knockout victory over Joseph Parker in 2022, Joyce has solely received as soon as in his final 5 fights and that win was a laboured efficiency in opposition to Kash Ali.
Joyce suffered consecutive stoppage losses to Zhilei Zhang. Final 12 months, Derek Chisora dropped him and went on to beat the Londoner on factors.
The Briton, who’s now 39 years previous, went 10 rounds with Hrgovic however misplaced a unanimous choice.
Afterwards the Croatian known as for Joyce to retire from boxing.
Hrgovic stated of Joyce: “I believe he can provide anybody a tough combat. As a result of he is simply robust, he retains coming, he throws a whole lot of punches, he is large. He’ll give anybody a tricky combat, anybody within the division.
“But I think for his health it would be best that he retires.”
Hrgovic added: “He’s had a lot of tough fights. He received a lot of punches. He has that open style, not so great defence, and like I said he can give anyone a tough fight. But my opinion is that he should retire because of his health. That’s most important in the end; to be healthy after boxing.”
The Londoner was a high novice, who beat Hrgovic years in the past in a World Collection of Boxing bout. Joyce received an Olympic silver medal, and was unfortunate to not be awarded gold at Rio 2016.
Joyce did impress as knowledgeable, chalking up wins over Daniel Dubois and different high heavyweights in addition to Parker.
Hrgovic famous: “He’s a warrior. I respect him. He has amazing achievements as an amateur and as a professional.”
However he added: “Now he’s maybe too old at this moment. I think he should retire, that’s my opinion. Without any disrespect but I think it would be best for him.”
Promoter Frank Warren advised Queensberry’s Youtube channel that now Joyce has “got to have a serious think about his future”.
“No rush but that’s what he needs to do now,” Warren stated. “He’s as game as they come.
“He’ll need one other combat, I do know he’ll. However he wants to sit down down together with his household and have a severe take into consideration the longer term. There will not be any simple approach again for him.
“But whatever he does, we will support him. When you’re getting older in boxing, certainly when you fight the way Joe does you’ve got to really think about what the consequences will be down the road.
“He is a stunning man, the most effective individuals I’ve ever labored with and I simply need one of the best for him now.”