Joe Joyce will return to the ring on July 11 when he faces unbeaten 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 defeat to Filip Hrgovic in April 2025.
“I’ve spent the last year preparing, training, and wanting to be back in the ring,” said Joyce. “I’m excited for the opportunity to travel to Russia. My team and I are locked in, and Moscow should get ready for a big performance.”
Suslenkov enters the contest unbeaten and currently holds the No. 9 position in the WBA heavyweight rankings.
“Joyce is a powerful opponent with strong technique and vast experience,” said Suslenkov. “This is a serious challenge. I feel both excitement and full focus. Meticulous preparation and the right tactics to neutralize his strengths will be crucial.
“This is a chance to show my level and give the fans something to cheer about. Joyce is a strong, pressure-fighting heavyweight with heavy hands and a great deal of experience.”
Joyce (16-4, 15 KOs) has won just once in his last five fights, a stretch that includes defeats to Zhilei Zhang, Derek Chisora, and Hrgovic. His lone victory during that run came against Kash Ali in March 2024.
Suslenkov (14-0, 9 KOs) will be facing the most experienced opponent of his professional career. A victory would likely move him closer to a future shot at fellow Russian heavyweight Gassiev.
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Last Updated on 2026/06/08 at 10:44 AM
