Hrgovic Urges Anthony Joshua to Retire from Boxing

IBF heavyweight champion Filip Hrgovic has urged Anthony Joshua to retire from professional boxing, arguing that the former two-time world heavyweight champion is no longer performing at his peak and risks his health by continuing to fight.

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The Croatian boxer said he felt sorry for Joshua after watching his recent performances, suggesting that the British fighter was pursuing a reported December 11 showdown with Tyson Fury largely for the financial reward.

Joshua is reportedly set to earn £75 million from the bout, which is expected to take place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

Speaking on the Ariel Helwani Show, Hrgovic questioned whether Joshua should continue competing in a sport that exposes fighters to significant physical risks, particularly when they are no longer performing at their best.

“He is done; he shouldn’t be fighting anymore, but he wants to do one more fight. 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,” Hrgovic said.

Joshua’s recent career has included setbacks, most notably his 2024 defeat to Daniel Dubois in their fight for the IBF heavyweight title.

The article also reports that Joshua returned to the ring with a knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December 2025 before facing Albanian boxer Kristian Prenga.

Hrgovic was particularly critical of Joshua’s performance against Prenga, claiming the former champion struggled despite eventually securing a second-round knockout victory after being knocked down twice in the opening round.

The Croatian said he was surprised by the performance, given Joshua’s reported decision to concentrate fully on boxing and make another coaching change.

“When I saw that last fight, I felt sorry for him because before the fight he said that he shut all of his businesses to focus on boxing. He changed his coach for the 20th time,” he said.

“He started to work with Team Usyk; he did everything that he could do, and then he comes to the fight with a journeyman, and he goes down in 10 seconds!”

“I couldn’t believe it. I felt sorry for him, and I think he shouldn’t be fighting anymore. Based on how he looked in his last fight, it was a disaster. He is just not there, man.”

Hrgovic warns of boxing’s physical risks

Hrgovic argued that boxing carries risks that distinguish it from sports such as football and basketball, insisting that fighters must recognise when it is time to stop competing.

“It is not basketball, it is not soccer. 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,” he said.

Joshua’s reported clash with Fury is expected to draw considerable attention because of the prominence of both British heavyweights.

However, Hrgovic’s remarks have brought renewed attention to debate surrounding Joshua’s form and future in the sport as he reportedly prepares for another major payday.

Hrgovic’s comments reflect his personal assessment of Joshua’s recent performances. Joshua’s future plans and response to the criticism were not included in the report.

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