Joe Joyce has had a strange and painful few years. Four losses in his last six fights, two of them brutal stoppages by Zhilei Zhang, and the career of the 2016 Olympic silver medallist appeared to be entering its final chapter. But “The Juggernaut” has boarded a plane to Moscow, where he challenges Artem Suslenkov — unbeaten, home favourite, 10 years his junior — for the WBA Continental Heavyweight title at VTB Arena on Saturday, July 11. Not exactly the gentle send-off scenario.
There is an ironic subplot threading through this co-main event. Joyce lost the 2016 Olympic super-heavyweight final to Tony Yoka in a controversial split decision — a result that still rankles in British boxing circles. Yoka was supposed to headline this very card against Murat Gassiev in the WBA World Heavyweight Championship main event, until a training injury forced him out nine days before fight night. Joyce flies to Moscow, performs on the same card where his Olympic nemesis should have starred, and faces a fresh, unbeaten Russian in front of the most partisan crowd imaginable. Boxing writes the most peculiar stories.
Artem Suslenkov (14-0, 9 KOs) is the flagship heavyweight of the IBA Pro platform — a 30-year-old Volgograd native who has built an unbeaten eight-year professional career entirely on the Russian circuit. His amateur credentials are legitimate: World Military Games champion, Champion of Russia, and a Master of Sports of Russia (International Class) — an elite amateur classification. He knows how to fight, how to train, and how to perform on the domestic stage.
His recent form is the most encouraging sign. In April 2026, he defended his WBA Continental belt with a third-round TKO over German veteran Artur Mann — controlled, decisive, and professional. Before that, he beat Stanley Wright (USA) and Agron Smakici, each stopped inside six rounds. Nine finishes from 14 wins gives him a 64% KO rate, which tells you he has power, even if the opposition hasn’t yet been at Joyce’s level.
The question hanging over Suslenkov is simple: he has never shared a ring with anyone as physically imposing, as experienced, or as decorated as Joe Joyce. His home advantage and 10-year age edge will need to do significant heavy lifting.
Joe Joyce (16-4, 15 KOs) is one of the most compelling heavyweights of his generation — for all the wrong recent reasons. The 40-year-old Londoner turned professional after the 2016 Rio Olympics silver medal and scorched through his first 15 fights undefeated, stopping both Joseph Parker and Daniel Dubois in performances that put the heavyweight division on notice.
Then came the Zhang problem. Zhilei Zhang stopped Joyce twice in 2023 — first in six rounds, then brutally in three — exposing a vulnerability to big right hands that had simply not been tested at that level before. A rebuild win over Kash Ali in March 2024 was followed by a unanimous decision loss to Derek Chisora at the O2 in July 2024, and then another points defeat against Filip Hrgovic in April 2025. The scorecards have been damning: 4 losses in his last 6 outings.
And yet. Those 15 knockouts from 20 fights represent a 75% stoppage rate among his wins — Joyce remains one of the most dangerous punchers in the division. At 6’6” / 198cm with an 80-inch reach, he is physically enormous — a full five inches taller than Suslenkov. When he gets his jab working and plants his feet, he is extraordinarily difficult to deal with. The question is whether the chin and reflexes that absorbed the Zhang shots have deteriorated enough to make him beatable by a 30-year-old Russian with a fraction of his pedigree.
| Suslenkov | Joyce | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 30 | 40 |
| Height | 6’1” / 185cm | 6’6” / 198cm |
| Reach | — | 80” / 204cm |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Record | 14-0-0 | 16-4-0 |
| KOs | 9 (64%) | 15 (94%) |
| Suslenkov | Result | Method | Rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artur Mann (Apr 2026) | WIN | TKO | 3 |
| Stanley Wright (Dec 2025) | WIN | TKO | 6 |
| Agron Smakici (Oct 2025) | WIN | TKO | 5 |
| Christian Ciocan (Oct 2024) | WIN | UD | 8 |
| Michael Hunter (Apr 2024) | WIN | UD | 10 |
| Joyce | Result | Method | Rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filip Hrgovic (Apr 2025) | LOSS | UD | 10 |
| Derek Chisora (Jul 2024) | LOSS | UD | 10 |
| Kash Ali (Mar 2024) | WIN | KO | 10 |
| Zhilei Zhang (Sep 2023) | LOSS | KO | 3 |
| Zhilei Zhang (Apr 2023) | LOSS | KO | 6 |
This fight lives or dies on the size differential and what Suslenkov can do about it. The 5-inch height gap and Joyce’s 80-inch reach are not just numbers — they represent a fundamental problem for Suslenkov every time he tries to close the distance. When Joyce is at his best, he stations his jab at the end of that reach and makes opponents fight through it all night. The Dubois TKO is the definitive example: relentless pressure, body attack, volume — Dubois simply couldn’t find a way to shut him down.
Suslenkov’s strengths are activity and footwork. He doesn’t sit in front of opponents; he moves, works angles, and builds volume. Against the Artur Manns and Christian Ciocans of the world, that approach works well. Against a 6’6” former Olympian who has been in the ring with Zhang, Parker, and Dubois, the gap in quality is real and the tactics need to be sharper. He will need to use his legs to stay out of the corners and make Joyce work to find him.
The dangerous variable for Suslenkov: Joyce’s power. Those 15 knockouts don’t lie. If Joyce times a straight right hand, Suslenkov — who has never been knocked down or stopped — will be in uncharted territory.
Suslenkov:
Joyce:
Suslenkov is expected to be a moderate favourite given home advantage, youth, and Joyce’s recent form — approximately -200 to -250 (4/9 to 4/7 fractional). Joyce likely opens around +160 to +200 (8/5 to 2/1).
This is a genuinely difficult fight to call. Suslenkov’s unbeaten record and local knowledge are significant advantages. But Joyce’s physical tools — the height, the reach, the elite power — are a threat the 30-year-old Russian simply hasn’t encountered before. If Joyce gets his jab working and makes this uncomfortable from round one, he has every tool needed for a significant upset.
The suspicion is that Suslenkov’s youth, activity, and home canvas edge it narrowly over 10 rounds — but do not rule out a stoppage in either direction. Joyce’s power is the great equaliser.
Prediction: Artem Suslenkov by majority decision. Joyce makes it a proper fight and lands something to remind everyone why he was an Olympic medallist, but Suslenkov’s activity and home advantage earn the scorecards.
Also on the card: Murat Gassiev defends the WBA World Heavyweight Championship against short-notice challenger Peter Kadiru in the main event. Full preview: Gassiev vs Kadiru preview
When is Suslenkov vs Joyce? Saturday, July 11, 2026 at VTB Arena, Moscow, Russia.
What title is on the line? The WBA Continental Heavyweight Championship.
What time is the ring walk for Suslenkov vs Joyce? Approximately 19:00–20:00 UTC (22:00 Moscow / 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET) as the co-main event.
Where can I watch it? DAZN — streaming worldwide.
What is Joe Joyce’s record? Joyce is 16-4 with 15 knockouts. He has suffered 4 losses in recent fights — twice to Zhilei Zhang (both stoppages), once to Derek Chisora, and once to Filip Hrgovic on points.
Is Joe Joyce still dangerous at 40? Absolutely. Joyce’s 94% career knockout rate among his wins is not a coincidence — he remains one of the hardest punchers in the heavyweight division. His recent losses have exposed defensive vulnerabilities but his offensive threat is unchanged.
Why is the fight in Moscow? Suslenkov is the WBA Continental champion and fights exclusively on the IBA Pro platform, which is staging IBA Pro 19 at VTB Arena, Moscow on July 11.
What is the connection between Joyce and Tony Yoka? Joyce lost the 2016 Olympic super-heavyweight final to Yoka in a controversial split decision. Yoka was originally scheduled to fight Gassiev in the main event of this same card before withdrawing injured — giving the night an ironic symmetry Joyce’s fans won’t miss.
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