Joe Joyce expected to fight Murat Gassiev after Tony Yoka withdrawal

Joe Joyce could fight Murat Gassiev after Tony Yoka withdraws through injury

'The Juggernaut' Joe Joyce (16-4, 15 KOs) is scheduled to fight unbeaten heavyweight Artem Suslenkov (14-0, 9 KOs) this Saturday, July 11 at the VTB Arena, in Moscow on the packed IBA Pro 19 show.

The main event was due to see Murat Gassiev defend his WBA Regular heavyweight title to challenger Tony Yoka, but the Frenchman was forced to withdraw just before fight week through a back injury.

Gassiev has been elevated to full WBA World heavyweight champion following Oleksandr Usyk's decision to vacate last weekend.

Reports immediately suggested that IBA Pro were looking for last-minute opponents for the Russian champion, with Briton Joyce emerging as the frontrunner. However, the Putney puncher has dropped out of the world rankings following back-to-back defeats to Derek Chisora and Filip Hrgovic in 2024 and 2025.

During 2023, he was KO'd twice by Zhilei Zhang, meaning he has only won one from his last five fights. The WBA would have to make a special allowance to allow Joyce to challenge for their world title, but the Londoner has an extensive pedigree over many years in boxing, reaching the pinnacle of both amateur and professional, which would justify his shot.

The IBA Pro 19 show has seven Russians competing against away fighters.