Fans expecting to see Joe Joyce return to the ring tonight were left disappointed as the British heavyweight was forced to withdraw from his scheduled fight against Patrick Korte.
The news came just hours before the bout was set to take place, raising questions about the future of Joyce’s plans.
This was meant to be Joyce’s first fight since his July 2024 defeat to Derek Chisora, a contest that followed back-to-back losses against Zhilei Zhang. The former WBO interim heavyweight champion had been looking to rebuild momentum after a difficult period in his career, but those plans have now been delayed.
Though he will now be forgoing his fight with Korte, which was meant to be a tune-up against the 22-4-1 opponent, he is still set to face Dillian Whyte in April, with some believing the withdrawal was a tactical move, as a defeat would mean Joyce is out of the headline fight.
Joe Joyce’s Rocky Road to Redemption
Joe Joyce, known as “The Juggernaut,” has endured a challenging period in his professional boxing career, marked by a series of setbacks that have tested his resilience. Before his scheduled bout with Patrick Korte on March 1, 2025, Joyce’s record stood at 16 wins, 3 losses, and 0 draws, with 15 of his victories coming by knockout. His formidable knockout ratio of 94% underscored his reputation as a heavy-hitter.
The difficulties began in April 2023 when Joyce suffered his first professional defeat, a sixth-round technical knockout against China’s Zhilei Zhang, losing his WBO interim heavyweight title. A rematch was swiftly activated, but the outcome was even more decisive, with Zhang stopping Joyce in the third round in September 2023, delivering a highlight-reel right hook knockout. These back-to-back losses raised significant questions about Joyce’s chin and his ability to compete at the elite level.
Joyce attempted to rebuild his momentum with a comeback fight against Kash Ali on March 16, 2024, securing a tenth-round knockout victory. However, this brief return to winning ways was followed by another defeat in July 2024, when he lost a unanimous decision to fellow British veteran Derek Chisora. This string of losses made the planned tune-up fight against Patrick Korte (22-4-1, 18 KOs) on March 1, 2025, crucial for Joyce’s confidence and preparation. His last-minute withdrawal from the Korte fight, for which no official reason was given, was widely speculated to be a precautionary measure to avoid any potential injury ahead of the more significant clash with Dillian Whyte.
Dillian Whyte’s Comeback Trail After Controversy
Dillian Whyte, known as “The Body Snatcher,” has also navigated a tumultuous path in recent years. His career faced a significant hurdle in August 2023 when his highly anticipated rematch against Anthony Joshua was canceled due to an “adverse analytical finding” in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) test. Whyte vehemently denied knowingly taking any banned substance and was later cleared to resume his career after an investigation concluded the positive result was due to a contaminated supplement.
Following this period of inactivity and legal battles, Whyte made his return to the ring on March 17, 2024, securing a third-round corner retirement victory over Christian Hammer in Ireland. He continued his comeback trail with another win on December 15, 2024, defeating Ebenezer Tetteh via corner retirement in the seventh round in Gibraltar. While these victories marked his return to winning ways, some observers noted that his performances were not entirely convincing, raising questions about his form and killer instinct against less-than-elite opposition.
The Unfulfilled Clash: Joyce vs. Whyte and the Emergence of Hrgovic
Despite Joyce’s withdrawal from the Korte fight, his planned bout against Whyte was still expected to take place as scheduled on April 5, 2025, at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. This highly anticipated domestic clash, billed as ‘Heavy Impact,’ was seen as a crucial encounter for both men, who were looking to re-establish themselves in the heavyweight division.
However, the boxing world was dealt another blow when Dillian Whyte was forced to withdraw from the April 5th fight against Joe Joyce due to a hand injury sustained during training camp. This unfortunate turn of events meant that the eagerly awaited showdown between the two British heavyweights would not proceed as planned. Queensberry Promotions, the organizer of the event, quickly sought a replacement opponent to keep Joyce on the card.
Filip Hrgovic stepped in as the new opponent for Joe Joyce on short notice. The fight, which took place on April 5, 2025, at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, saw Joyce suffer another setback, losing to Hrgovic by unanimous decision in a 10-round contest. This marked Joyce’s third loss in his last four fights, further complicating his path back to title contention.
This punch could be Joe Joyce’s key to victory against Dillian Whyte
Whyte’s record is 31-3, losing only to Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Alexander Povetkin.
Whyte defeated Povetkin in their rematch, but it was clear that the fight had exposed a serious weakness of his.
Every fight he has lost has been by stoppage, and in every instance it has been with the same punch – an uppercut.
This could prove to be Joyce’s secret weapon when the pair meet in the Queensberry double-header, the first to be broadcast on DAZN.
Implications for the Heavyweight Division and Future Prospects
The outcomes of these events have significant implications for both Joe Joyce and Dillian Whyte. Joyce’s loss to Filip Hrgovic by unanimous decision on April 5, 2025, brings his professional record to 16 wins and 4 losses. This defeat, following his recent struggles, places him in a precarious position within the heavyweight division. While still a respected name, the path back to world title contention appears increasingly challenging for “The Juggernaut” at 39 years old.
For Dillian Whyte, the hand injury that forced his withdrawal from the Joyce fight was a frustrating setback in his attempt to re-
