Former Commonwealth champion Delicious Orie has shared his thoughts on Joe Joyce’s future following the heavyweight’s latest defeat, suggesting that the veteran boxer may have continued his career longer than he should have.

Joyce, now 40, enjoyed an outstanding amateur career that included Commonwealth gold and Olympic silver before becoming a successful professional, winning his first 15 bouts against notable opponents such as Daniel Dubois, Joseph Parker and Carlos Takam.

However, his recent form has declined significantly, with five defeats in his last six contests, including knockout losses to Zhilei Zhang, points defeats to Derek Chisora and Filip Hrgovic, and a stoppage loss to Artem Suslenkov.

Speaking to The Independent, Orie praised Joyce’s achievements but admitted that, if he were in the same position, he would have retired around six years earlier.

He stressed that Joyce’s performances have visibly slowed and raised concerns about the long-term health risks associated with continuing to compete at the highest level.

Nevertheless, Orie avoided directly telling Joyce to retire, arguing that the decision must come from the fighter’s own motivation and sense of purpose rather than outside criticism.

Reflecting on his own decision to retire from professional boxing after only one fight, Orie explained that athletes must honestly assess whether they are still willing to make the sacrifices required to compete.He also acknowledged that leaving the sport can be emotionally difficult because boxing often becomes a core part of an athlete’s identity.

Ultimately, Orie concluded that Joyce should continue only if his passion for boxing remains genuine, emphasising that personal fulfilment and intrinsic motivation should outweigh public opinion.