Frank Warren claims Joe Joyce ‘needs to have a serious think’ about retiring with risk of ‘consequences down the road’
FRANK WARREN says Joe Joyce needs to consider retirement for the sake of his long-term health after another punishing loss.
The 39-year-old Putney heavyweight lost a unanimous decision to Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic, 32, on Saturday night in Manchester.
There was no shame in the defeat but it was another ten-round exhibition of Joyce’s steadfast determination to use his own face as his only defence.
And promoter Warren — who guided The Juggernaut to excellent wins over Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker — is now concerned what permanent damage defeats to Zhilei Zhang, Derek Chisora and now Hrgovic has done.
The Queensberry promoter said: “Joe needs to have a serious think about his future “There’s no rush but that is what he has to do now.
“He will want to fight, I know he will, but he needs to sit down with his family and have a real serious think about the future, because it will not be an easy road back for him. Whatever he does, we will support him.
“But, in boxing, as you get older — and you fight the way Joe does — you have to think about what the consequences could be down the road.
“He’s a lovely man, one of the best people I have ever worked with And I just want the best for him now.”
Worryingly Joyce, who also did thousands of explosive and gruelling rounds with Anthony Joshua when they were on Team GB, is already thinking about his next fight.
He said: “I am still enjoying what I am doing and I feel good.
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“A lot of people want to see me fight Dillian Whyte, so I will reflect on this fight, with my team, and see what’s coming next. I will reflect and come back.”
But ringside pundit and former British super-middleweight champion Paul Smith pleaded with Joyce to hang up his gloves.
He said: “I hope I never see Joe Joyce in a boxing ring again.
“I felt uncomfortable watching that because this is an unforgiving sport and it’s his health we are all worried about.
“I am not being cruel to him but I didn’t like what I saw in there. It was an entertaining fight but only because of how many shots Joe takes and just keeps going.
“In boxing you need people around you who care about you and love you, who will say ‘no more’ because you have got to think about your long-term health.”