JOE JOYCE is out to KO Filip Hrgovic and talk of retirement in the same breathe as he prepares to put his career on the line.
on DAZN in a make-or-break clash following a punishing points loss to Derek Chisora in July.
from his boxing peers – after two damaging defeats to Zhilei Zhang in 2023 as well.
But still dreams of landing a world title shot but will first need to put doubts over his career to bed.
He told Boxing Social: “I've been up the mountain twice, it's the third time where I need to actually get the proper full belt.
“Not an interim or anything like that, I just need to get the full title or full titles and then I can think about calling it a day.
“Of course I'm happy. I'm doing what I like to do. I have a big fight coming up and I'm excited for that.
“While I'm still enjoying it and making money I'm going to continue doing my job.”
– now the current IBF champion – in 2020 and looked on course for a shot at the world title.
He held the WBO interim belt – making him mandatory to at the time – while also being linked with fighting .
But his defeats to Zhang sent Joyce down the pecking order – despite returning with victory against Kash Ali last year.
It was his loss to Chisora – hitting the canvas in the process – which
But he looks to get back to winning ways against Hrgovic, 32, who is coming off an eight-round stoppage to Dubois, 27, last June.
Joyce said: “I know exactly what to do. And I'm ready. It's great to be in exciting fights.
“He has a lot to offer because he's high up in the rankings so that puts me back at the top of sport which is what I'm trying to do.”
