JOE JOYCE LOSES TO ARTEM SUSLENKOV IN MOSCOW

Joe Joyce's comeback fight ended in the 11th round when he stepped backwards and appeared to signal he no longer wished to continue, allowing referee Artem Suslenkov to stop the contest in Moscow. The 40-year-old British heavyweight had looked lethargic and lacked power throughout the bout against the undefeated Russian opponent. Suslenkov, aged 30, landed several blows as Joyce offered minimal defence before the referee intervened. Suslenkov improved his record to 15 wins and no losses with the victory.

Joyce returned to the ring for the first time since losing to Filip Hrgovic in April 2025. His professional record now stands at 16 wins and five losses, with all five defeats occurring in his last six fights. Joyce's career highlight came in 2022 when he defeated Joseph Parker to win the vacant WBO interim heavyweight title. He lost his unbeaten record in his first meeting with Zhilei Zhang in 2023 and was stopped in their rematch.

The fight took place on the undercard of Murat Gassiev's first defence of the WBA heavyweight title against Peter Kadiru. Gassiev, elevated to WBA champion following Oleksandr Usyk's retirement last month, stopped Kadiru in the sixth round to improve his record to 34 wins and two losses. Anthony Fowler, Joyce's Rio 2016 Olympic team-mate, described the outcome as "a sad end to Joe's career" on social media, suggesting the fight may mark the conclusion of Joyce's boxing career.