Joe Joyce Is A Significant Betting Underdog To Filip Hrgovic

Published 1 month ago• 4 minute read

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: Joe Joyce looks on during the Queensberry Show Announcement Press ... More Conference at Co-op Live on February 10, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)

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Former interim WBO heavyweight champion Joe Joyce needs a win. The 39-year-old moved to 15-0 when he knocked out Joseph Parker in September 2022 to become earn that interim championship. Since then, Parker has gone 1-3 with two knockout losses. He is coming off a July 2024 decision setback to Derek Chisora. On Saturday, Joyce faces the 32-year-old Filip Hrgovic. who Daniel Dubois knocked out in June 2024. Hrgovic has not fought since that loss, the first defeat of his career. Below, we look at the betting odds for the Joyce vs. Hrgovic fight, which takes place on Saturday, April 5 from Co-op Live in Manchester, England.

When the betting odds were announced for this heavyweight scrap, Joyce (16-3 with 15 knockouts) was a +245 underdog to Hrgovic (17-1 with 14 knockouts), who came in as the -340 betting favorite. Today, Joyce is listed at +260, while Hrgovic comes in at -430.

Joyce was initially booked to face former WBC heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte on the April 5 card. However, that fight fell apart in early March, when a hand injury forced Whyte from the card. Not long after, Hrgovic was named as a replacement opponent for Joyce.

"It’s a tough fight for both of them," promoter Frank Warren told Ring Magazine at the time "It's exactly the same as the fight he had before, Joe, against Dillian. The winner goes on, the loser is going to have to think about what he does.

"Every fight he [Joyce] has is a risky fight. But if he wants to get back into it, he's got to come back with a win against a real good, credible opponent."

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RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - JUNE 01: Filip Hrgovic looks on with a bloodied face during the Heavyweight ... More fight between Filip Hrgovic of Team Matchroom and Daniel Dubois of Team Queensberry on the 5v5: Queensberry v Matchroom Fight Night card at Kingdom Arena on June 01, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

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Joyce is currently unranked by the IBF, WBO, WBC, or WBO. Meanwhile, Hrgovic is ranked No. 6 by the IBF, No. 7 by the WBA, and No. 9 by the WBC.

Saturday, April 5, 2025

Main Card starts at 2:00 p.m. ET

Co-Op Live in Manchester, England

DAZN

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“I’m familiar with his stature, his style, and who he’s training with,” Joyce said of his upcoming opponent.

“I’ve got a good idea of what to do and how to beat him. It was a great performance, and I aim to do the same again,” Joyce said about their 2013 meeting. “We’ve had fights, we’ve learned, and we’re going to get a great fight. There’s some history there, but I’m going to win.”

Joyce and Hrgovic had a five-round matchup for the now defunct World Series of Boxing in 2013. Joyce won that fight via split decision.