CARDIFF — Reigning IBF heavyweight champion Filip Hrgovic has delivered a scathing assessment of Anthony Joshua, urging the British star to walk away from the sport permanently because he is “just not there anymore.”
Hrgovic’s outspoken comments land as Joshua prepares for his massive, career-defining grudge match against fellow Briton Tyson Fury, scheduled for Friday, December 11, in Cardiff.
However, speaking candidly on The Ariel Helwani Show, the Croatian champion claimed that financial incentives—rather than competitive viability—are the only reason Joshua is stepping back into the ring.
”He is done; he shouldn’t be fighting anymore, but he wants to do one more fight,” Hrgovic said. “I think that he is going to make a huge amount of money and he is doing it because of that, but I think that he shouldn’t be fighting anymore.”
Alarming Recent Performances
Hrgovic pointed to Joshua’s shaky recent outings as proof of his decline. Following his 2024 knockout loss to Daniel Dubois and a win over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, Joshua’s July fight raised serious red flags across the division.
Despite ultimately stopping Kristian Prenga in the second round, Joshua was dropped twice in the opening seconds by the lesser-known opponent—a performance that prompted him to split from his corner and reunite with former coach Ben Davison.
Reflecting on that bout, Hrgovic admitted he felt genuine sympathy for the former two-time champion:
”When I saw that last fight, I felt sorry for him… He changed his coach for the 20th time. He did everything that he could do, and then he comes to the fight with a journeyman, and he goes down in 10 seconds!” Hrgovic stated. “I couldn’t believe it. Based on how he looked in his last fight, it was a disaster. He is just not there, man.”
A Deadly Serious Business
Issuing a stern caution about the physical hazards of elite combat sports, Hrgovic warned the former champion against treating boxing casually.
”It is not basketball, it is not soccer,” Hrgovic cautioned. “In boxing, you come to a point where you can’t fight anymore. It is a dangerous sport, it is a war, and I think that when you come to a point where you can’t fight, you can’t mess around with boxing.”
While Joshua gears up for his December mega-clash with Fury, Hrgovic is preparing to make the maiden defense of his IBF title against undefeated contender Frank Sanchez in Croatia in early 2027.
