Joe Joyce, 40, will face unbeaten Russian heavyweight Artem Suslenkov on the undercard of the Murat Gassiev vs Tony Yoka bout in Moscow on Saturday, July 11. Joyce returned in April 2025, losing to Filip Hrgovic for the vacant WBO international title. He also lost to Derek Chisora in July 2024 at London's 02 arena.

Joyce carries a 16‑win, four‑loss record, 15 knockouts, after a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics. Suslenkov, 30, boasts a perfect 14‑win, nine‑KO record and holds the WBA continental and IBF European heavyweight titles. The Russian’s last fight, a third‑round KO over Artur Mann, ended in April against a Kazakh‑German opponent in Moscow.

The bout sits beside Gassiev’s WBA title defense, keeping him on the path to a mandatory shot at Oleksandr Usyk. Joyce, who thanked IBA Pro for the opportunity, vows a “big performance” for Moscow fans. Suslenkov sees the fight as a chance to prove his level and electrify crowds. If he wins, he could position himself for a world title fight next year and could challenge for a world title.