Joe Joyce will return to the ring on July 11 when he takes on undefeated heavyweight Artem Suslenkov on the undercard of Murat Gassiev’s WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight title defense against Tony Yoka in Moscow, Russia.
The 40-year-old former Olympic silver medalist has not fought since his unanimous decision loss to Filip Hrgovic in April 2025.
“I’ve spent the last year preparing, training and getting back in the ring,” Joyce said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to travel to Russia. My team and I are locked in, and Moscow should be gearing up for a big show.”
Suslenkov enters the competition undefeated and currently holds the no. 9 position on the WBA heavyweight rankings.
“Joyce is a powerful opponent with strong technique and great experience,” Suslenkov said. “This is a serious challenge. I feel both excitement and full focus. Careful preparation and the right tactics to neutralize his strengths will be decisive.
“This is a chance to show my mettle and give the fans something to cheer about. Joyce is a strong, pressure-fighting heavyweight with heavy hands and a lot of experience.”
Joyce (16-4, 15 KOs) has won just once in his last five fights, a stretch that includes losses to Zhilei Zhang, Derek Chisora ​​​​and Hrgovic. His lone win during that run came against Kash Ali in March 2024.
Suslenkov (14-0, 9 KOs) will face the most experienced opponent of his professional career. A win would likely move him closer to a future shot at fellow Russian heavyweight Gassiev.
Click here to subscribe to our FREE newsletter
Related Boxing News:
Last updated on 2026/06/08 at 10:44
