Joe Joyce has been encouraged to retire after suffering a loss to Philip Hrgovic on Saturday.
Since a big victory in Nokau to Joseph Parker in 2022, Joyce has only won once in his last five fights and that victory was a tormented show against Ali.
Joyce suffered successive stop losses against Zhilei Zhang. Last year, Derek Chisora overthrew her and continued to beat London in the point.
Britain, who is now 39, went 10 rounds with Hrgovic but lost a unanimous decision.
Boxing retirement should now be a serious consideration for Joyce.
Matthew Macklin, former world title and Sky Boxing The expert said: “You never want to tell any warrior retire because it is ultimately a personal decision.
“Because all those factors, weighing them, what is his ambition left in the game? He wanted to be a high weight of flight. Well, he was some fighting before. With post-back losses in Zhang, a loss for chisora, where he collapsed and also this fight against Hrgovic, where he sent a lot of penalties.
“I think retirement, if he were my close side. That’s what I would say to him.”
Zhilei Zhang descending a big right hand over Joe Joyce in his second victory over Brit
His opponent, Hrgovic, has also called for Joyce to withdraw from boxing.
Hrgovic told Joyce: “I think he can give anyone a difficult war. Because he is just fierce, he continues to come, he throws a lot of punches, he is great. He will give anyone a fierce war, anyone in the division.
“But I think for his health it would be better for him to retire.”
Hrgovic added: “He has had many difficult fighting. He got a lot of punches. He has that open style, not so great, and as I said he can give anyone a fierce war. But my opinion is that he has to retire because of his health. That’s the most important in the end;
Joyce has had a harsh professional career
Londoner was a high amateur, who beat Hrgovic years ago in a world boxing series. Joyce won an Olympic silver medal and was unlucky not to give gold in Rio 2016.
Joyce impressed as a professional, winning victory over Daniel Dubois and other heavy weights as well as Parker.
Hrgovic pointed out: “He is a warrior. I respect him. He has amazing achievement as an amateur and as a professional.”
But he added: “Now he is probably very old at the moment. I think he should retire, this is my opinion. Without any disrespect, but I think it would be better for him.”
Promoter Frank Warren told Queensberry’s YouTube Canal that Joyce is now “should think seriously about his future”.
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Joey’s mother, Marvel Opera, talks about her emotions by seeing her son fight and requires more audio description in boxing to follow better.
“Without a hurry but that’s what he has to do now,” Warren said. “He’s as much game as they come.
“He will want another war. I know he wants. But he has to sit with his family and think seriously about the future. There will be no easy way for him.
“But whatever he does, we will support it. When you get old in boxing, of course when you fight the way you really need to think about what the consequences will be on the street.
“He’s a beautiful man, one of the best people I have ever worked with and I just want the best for him now.”
