As Anthony Joshua prepares for what stands as the most high-profile and defining fight of his professional career, gearing up for a long-awaited and blockbuster domestic showdown with fellow British rival Tyson Fury, dissenting voices continue to question whether the two-time heavyweight ruler should even be stepping back into the ring. Ahead of the highly anticipated clash scheduled to take place in Cardiff, reigning heavyweight world champion Filip Hrgovic has admitted that he feels "sorry for AJ" and firmly believes that the decorated British star should never fight again.
Joshua’s journey to this monumental juncture has been fraught with turbulence, dramatic career pivots, and devastating setbacks. The former unified champion was halted by Daniel Dubois in devastating fashion back in 2024 when challenging for the IBF heavyweight world title, a loss that sent shockwaves through the division and prompted widespread speculation regarding his future at the elite level. Despite the severity of the knockout, the resilient two-time heavyweight ruler made his comeback last December, stepping outside the traditional boxing landscape to secure a knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
That victory marked his first outing since joining forces with Team Usyk and appointing Iegor Golub as his lead cornerman. However, his subsequent appearance proved to be far less smooth and raised profound alarm bells among pundits and fans alike. In July, Joshua was dramatically dropped twice by the previously unknown Kristian Prenga before ultimately managing to score a second-round knockout over the Albanian contender, a performance that left many questioning his current defensive vulnerabilities and durability at the highest tier of the sport.
In an effort to stabilize his camp and recapture the form that once made him a dominant force in the division, Joshua has once again shaken up his coaching setup. As he attempts to silence his growing legion of doubters, Joshua has reunited with former trainer Ben Davison, a notable tactical mind who was also once prominently in the corner for "The Gypsy King" during pivotal stages of his career. This reunion brings an intriguing layer of tactical familiarity into the camp as Joshua finalizes his preparations for the biggest domestic matchup of the modern era.
Despite these adjustments, reigning IBF heavyweight champion Filip Hrgovic remains entirely unconvinced that a change of trainer can salvage Joshua’s career at this advanced stage. Speaking candidly on the Ariel Helwani Show, Hrgovic delivered a stark assessment of the Briton’s current standing in the sport, declaring bluntly that Joshua "is done" and "shouldn’t be fighting anymore."
Elaborating on his concerns, the undefeated heavyweight champion pointed to the extreme sacrifices Joshua reportedly made ahead of his last outing, only to look alarmingly vulnerable against lower-tier opposition. "He is done, he shouldn’t be fighting anymore, but he wants to do one more fight. I think that he is going to make a huge amount of money and he is doing it because of that, but I think that he shouldn’t be fighting anymore," Hrgovic told the Ariel Helwani Show.
"When I saw that last fight, I felt sorry for him because before the fight he said that he shut all of his businesses to focus on boxing. He changed his coach for the 20th time. He started to work with team Usyk, he did everything that he could do and then he comes to the fight with a journeyman and he goes down in 10 seconds! I couldn’t believe it. I felt sorry for him and I think he shouldn’t be fighting anymore, based on how he looked in his last fight, it was a disaster. He is just not there, man."
Hrgovic did not stop at critiquing Joshua’s recent performances; the Croatian heavyweight champion went a step further to issue a sobering warning to the British star regarding the unforgiving nature of combat sports. Emphasizing the physical toll that boxing takes on the human body, Hrgovic urged Joshua not to treat the sport lightly as he approaches the twilight of his career.
"It is not basketball, it is not soccer, in boxing you come to a point where you can’t fight anymore," Hrgovic stated. "It is a dangerous sport, it is a war and I think that when you come to a point where you can’t fight, you can’t mess around with boxing."
While Joshua navigates the intense scrutiny surrounding his preparations and the looming challenge posed by Tyson Fury, the heavyweight landscape continues to move rapidly forward. The high-stakes clash between Fury and Joshua is officially set to take place in Cardiff on Friday, December 11, capturing the undivided attention of the global sports community. Meanwhile, Filip Hrgovic is himself preparing for the next chapter of his own championship career, with the reigning IBF titleholder expected to return to action in early 2027 to make the first defense of his heavyweight crown against Frank Sanchez in Croatia.
