IBF heavyweight champion Filip Hrgovic has questioned Anthony Joshua’s decision to continue boxing, warning that the former world champion risks his safety as he prepares for his December showdown with Tyson Fury.
Hrgovic said Joshua should consider retiring after his recent performance against Albanian boxer Kristian Prenga, despite winning their July contest by a second-round knockout.
Joshua was reportedly knocked down twice before stopping Prenga, raising concerns about his form ahead of the long-awaited all-British clash with Fury.
Speaking on the Ariel Helwani Show, Hrgovic said he felt sorry for Joshua, arguing that the 36-year-old had made significant changes to his training team but still struggled against an opponent he described as a journeyman.
“He is done, he shouldn’t be fighting anymore, but he wants to do one more fight,” Hrgovic said, adding that the financial rewards could be a major motivation for Joshua.
The Croatian boxer also criticised Joshua’s performance against Prenga, saying he was surprised to see him dropped so early in the contest.
Hrgovic warned that boxing was too dangerous for fighters to continue once they could no longer compete at the required level.
“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,” he said.
Joshua is scheduled to face Fury in Cardiff on Friday, December 11, in one of British boxing’s most anticipated heavyweight contests.
The former two-time heavyweight world champion is seeking to reassert himself after suffering a fifth-round stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. He returned to the ring in December 2025, defeating YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul by knockout.
Joshua has since reunited with former trainer Ben Davison as he prepares for Fury, who has also previously worked with the coach.
Hrgovic, meanwhile, is expected to defend his IBF heavyweight title against Frank Sanchez in Croatia in early 2027.
Discussion0