Joyce vs Hrgovic: Croatian heavyweight steps in as replacement opponent
British heavyweight Joe Joyce will face replacement opponent Filip Hrgovic on April 5 at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.
Joyce (39) was scheduled to fight Dillian Whyte in front of the Londoner withdraw Because of the injured hand.
Croatian Hrgovic, 32, suffered his first professional defeat in 18 matches against Daniel Dubois in June.
Frank Warren, the promoter, told Ring Magazine.
“This is Joe’s battle with Dillian. The winner keeps moving forward and the loser will have to consider what he does.”
Both were in the super lightweight category of the 2012 Olympic Games, with Joyce winning silver in London and Helgovich winning bronze.
Joyce beat Hrgovic when he became an amateur in 2013 and was at a crossroads throughout his career. He was stopped twice by Zhilei Zhang in 2023, before losing to Derek Chisora on his last outing last July.
Former heavyweight world champion Lawrence Okolie was excluded from fighting Richard Riakporhe in the heavyweight competition after being injured in training.
Warren said he was not sure whether Riakporhe also stepped up his efforts from a small amount of lightweight Cruisergeight, and undefeated heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma, 20, has been added to the event.
