Joe Joyce could be in line for an unexpected heavyweight world title opportunity after Tony Yoka withdrew from his scheduled July 11 fight against Murat Gassiev with a back injury.
Yoka (15-3, 12 KOs) had been set to challenge Gassiev at Moscow’s VTB Arena before suffering the injury during training camp, leaving IBA Pro organizers searching for a replacement for the main event.
According to The Ring, Joyce is now the leading candidate to step in. The 40-year-old Briton (16-4, 15 KOs) was already scheduled to face unbeaten Artem Suslenkov (14-0, 9 KOs) on the undercard, but that bout could be scrapped if he is elevated into the headline fight. A replacement opponent would then be found for Suslenkov.
The opportunity comes despite Joyce’s recent struggles. The former interim heavyweight champion has lost four of his last five fights, most recently dropping a unanimous decision to Filip Hrgovic on April 5, 2025.
Gassiev (33-2, 26 KOs) is coming off a stoppage victory over Kubrat Pulev last December to capture the WBA’s secondary heavyweight title. With Oleksandr Usyk vacating the WBA heavyweight championship last week, Gassiev is expected to be elevated to full champion in the coming days.
If that happens before July 11, a showdown with Joyce would become the first defense of Gassiev’s full WBA heavyweight title. There remains a possibility the Moscow event could be postponed, but organizers are first attempting to keep the original date by securing a replacement opponent. An official announcement is expected once organizers finalize the revised main event plans.
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Last Updated on 2026/07/02 at 6:18 PM
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