MANCHESTER, ENGLAND -- Joe Joyce reverted to humour when asked about the possibility of retiring minutes after a bruising 10-round decision defeat by Filip Hrgovic, though his promoter Frank Warren found the question anything but funny.

CO-OP LIVE ARENA, MANCHESTER -- Filip Hrgovic said that Joe Joyce should retire, as punches are not vitamins. This was a wince-inducing display on a painful night for the former WBO interim world heavyweight champion, who couldn't avoid the right hand and try as he might against a Croatian cut over his left eye, the end was grim.

During most of his big fights, Joe Joyce was given a funny eye. Even those who believed in him were skeptical. Eventually, he won his doubters over. Now, however, he’ll have to do it again.

Joe Joyce takes on Filip Hrgovic tonight in a big heavyweight main event at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester. The card is Frank Warren and Queensberry's first since joining streaming service DAZN.

Filip Hrgovic had no idea that the bottom of the heavyweight mountain could get so dark and cold. For years, he was accustomed to the good life. Car doors were held open for him, fresh food was prepared for him daily, and gigantic paychecks were deposited into his bank account whenever he had a fight lined up. But, after getting pummeled by Daniel Dubois, things are different.

The fighters on tomorrow's ‘Heavy Impact’ card weighed-in in today in Manchester. Joe Joyce goes up against Filip Hrgovic in the headline attraction at the Co-op Live Arena, with the British heavyweight title being fought for between David Adeleye and Jeamie TKV, live on DAZN. (photos by Leigh Dawney)

As David Adeleye and Jeamie TKV provided click bait heaven at Thursday’s ‘Heavy Impact’ press conference in Manchester, the show’s main protagonists, Joe Joyce and Filip Hrgovic, sat calmly and waited for their turn to speak.

THE LEADING CAST for the ‘Heavy Impact’ card that will take place on Saturday at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester gathered at the venue today for the final press conference ahead of fight night, being broadcast live on DAZN. (photos by Leigh Dawney)

Ten days out from his short-notice assignment against former WBO interim world heavyweight champion Joe Joyce, Filip Hrgovic is finishing a brief training camp in his native Croatia seeking to avenge an amateur defeat twelve years later and return to winning ways.

JOE JOYCE and Filip Hrgovic will meet in a shoot-out at the Last Chance Saloon on April 5. Joyce (16-3, 15 KOs) was supposed to fight Dillian Whyte on that date until the Brixton man withdrew from the clash due to an ‘injured hand’.