Filip Hrgovic, the reigning IBF heavyweight champion, has advised Anthony Joshua to retire from boxing, claiming the former two-time world heavyweight champion is past his prime and is risking his health by continuing to fight.

Hrgovic said he felt sorry for Joshua after watching his recent performances, adding that the British boxer was pursuing his December 11 showdown with Tyson Fury at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium largely for the financial reward.

Joshua is reportedly set to earn £75 million from the highly anticipated bout, which is scheduled to headline an event beginning at 1 a.m.

Speaking on the Ariel Helwani Show, the Croatian boxer questioned whether Joshua should continue competing in a sport he described as increasingly dangerous for fighters who have passed their peak.

“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 said.

Joshua’s recent career has included setbacks, notably his 2024 defeat to Daniel Dubois in their fight for the IBF heavyweight title.

He subsequently returned to the ring and recorded a knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December 2025, after bringing Iegor Golub into his corner as lead cornerman.

However, Hrgovic remained critical of Joshua’s performance against Albanian boxer Kristian Prenga, claiming the former champion struggled despite eventually securing a knockout victory in the second round after being knocked down twice in the opening round.

Hrgovic said Joshua’s preparations for that fight made the performance particularly disappointing, pointing to his decision to focus entirely on boxing and make another coaching change.

“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 said.

“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.”

The Croatian boxer warned that boxing was fundamentally different from other sports because of the physical risks involved, arguing that fighters needed to recognise when they could no longer compete safely.

“It is not basketball, it is not soccer. In boxing, you come to a point where you can’t fight anymore. 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,” he said.

Joshua’s scheduled clash with Fury is expected to attract significant attention, with both British heavyweights among the most recognisable names in the sport.

However, Hrgovic’s comments have added to the debate over Joshua’s form and future as he prepares for one of the biggest financial opportunities of his career.