In a surprising development that sent ripples through the British boxing scene, heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte withdrew from his highly anticipated clash against Joe Joyce. The bout, originally scheduled for April 5, 2025, at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena, was called off due to a finger injury sustained by Whyte during his training camp. The news, initially reported by George Glinski of Talksport, left fans and promoters scrambling, particularly as the event was poised to mark Queensberry Promotions’ inaugural show under their new, exclusive multi-year media rights deal with international streaming service DAZN.
At the time of the announcement, Dillian Whyte, known as ‘The Bodysnatcher,’ boasted a professional record of 31 wins, 3 losses, and 0 draws, with 21 of his victories coming by knockout. Whyte’s only defeats had come against elite heavyweights: Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Alexander Povetkin. His most recent outing before the withdrawal saw him defeat Ebeneezer Tetteh by technical knockout in the seventh round on December 15, 2024. This fight, however, “raised more questions than answers regarding what Whyte has left,” as he sought to regain momentum after a period of inactivity. Whyte had also secured a third-round technical knockout victory over Christian Hammer on March 17, 2024, following his clearance to box after a failed Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) test in 2023, which an investigation concluded was caused by a contaminated supplement.
Joe Joyce, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist, was also navigating a challenging period in his career. The man who once impressively defeated Joseph Parker and Daniel Dubois now carried three losses on his record. These included two devastating stoppage losses to Zhilei Zhang in April and September 2023 for the WBO Interim World Heavyweight championship, followed by a unanimous decision loss to Derek Chisora on July 27, 2024. Joyce had managed a tenth-round knockout win against Kash Ali on March 16, 2024, but his form was certainly “on the slide.” Adding to the pre-fight drama, Joyce himself had recently withdrawn from a scheduled bout against Patrick Korte on March 1, 2025, just weeks before the Whyte cancellation, with no official reason given for his pull-out.
The Event Goes On: Joyce vs. Hrgovic
With Whyte’s withdrawal confirmed due to a hand injury, attention quickly turned to finding a replacement to keep the Queensberry-DAZN launch event on track. While reports initially indicated that Jermaine Franklin had been contacted as a potential substitute, it was Filip Hrgovic who ultimately stepped in to face Joe Joyce. The rescheduled main event pitted Joyce against the Croatian Hrgovic in a pivotal heavyweight clash. The “Heavy Impact” card, as it was dubbed, proceeded as planned on April 5, 2025, at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.
The fight itself saw Filip Hrgovic defeat Joe Joyce by unanimous decision over 10 rounds. The judges’ scorecards read 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94 in favor of Hrgovic. Joyce, who was 39 years old at the time of the fight, struggled to impose his signature relentless pressure and was outboxed by the sharper Hrgovic. This loss marked Joyce’s third consecutive defeat and his fourth in his last five outings, further complicating his path back to the top tier of the heavyweight division.
Undercard Action and Controversy
The “Heavy Impact” card featured several other notable bouts. The highly anticipated cruiserweight clash between Lawrence Okolie and Richard Riakporhe, initially planned as a double-header, did not take place as Okolie was ruled out due to an injury sustained in training. However, the vacant British heavyweight title was contested between David Adeleye and Jeamie TKV. In a controversial finish, David Adeleye secured the title with a sixth-round technical knockout victory over Jeamie TKV. The stoppage was met with outrage from TKV’s corner and some ringside observers, as replays showed referee Ron Kearney calling “break” and appearing to touch TKV’s hand just moments before Adeleye landed the left hook that led to the first knockdown and subsequent stoppage. Despite the controversy, Adeleye was crowned the new British champion.
Additionally, British Olympian Delicious Orie made his professional debut on the card, securing a unanimous decision victory over Milos Veletic in a four-round heavyweight contest. The event also showcased other rising talents such as Jack Rafferty, who scored a knockout in a Commonwealth super-lightweight title bout.
What’s Next for Whyte and Joyce?
The withdrawal from the Joyce fight and the subsequent events have significantly impacted both Dillian Whyte and Joe Joyce’s career trajectories. For Whyte, the injury added to a frustrating period of inactivity. Following his withdrawal, Whyte eventually returned to the ring, but suffered a first-round technical knockout loss to Moses Itauma on August 16, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This defeat marked his fourth professional loss and raised further questions about his standing in the heavyweight division. Whyte, who is 38 years old (born April 11, 1988), has expressed a desire for more activity, stating in March 2026, “I would love to fight three times this year. If not a comeback fight, then I’ll just go straight in again. I don’t care.” He aims to stay busy rather than waiting for specific comeback fights, acknowledging that inactivity has “killed his career over the last couple of years.”
For Joe Joyce, the loss to Filip Hrgovic compounded his recent struggles, extending his losing streak. Joyce, who turned 40 on September 19, 2025, now holds a professional record of 16 wins, 4 losses, and 0 draws. Despite the setbacks, ‘The Juggernaut’ remains defiant. In December 2024, he stated, “I’m not done yet. I’m still here. I’ve got some fights lined up. I’m real excited to get back in the ring and show people what I’m made of, and that I’m still here and I can still push it back into the top levels of the division.” His team will likely focus on strategic matchups to rebuild his confidence and standing, aiming to leverage his formidable amateur background, which includes a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and gold at the 2015 European Games.
The sudden cancellation of the Whyte vs. Joyce bout and the subsequent events underscore the unpredictable nature of heavyweight boxing. Both fighters, once considered top contenders, now face significant challenges in their careers. Their paths forward will be closely watched by fans, as they strive to reclaim their
