British heavyweight Joe Joyce experienced a strange conclusion to his return bout against Artem Suslenkov in Moscow. In his first appearance since a defeat by Filip Hrgovic in April 2025, the 40-year-old former Olympic silver medalist struggled to find his rhythm. Throughout the encounter, Joyce appeared sluggish and lacked his usual punching power.
The match reached its odd climax in the 11th round when Joyce stepped away from his opponent, signaling he had no intention to continue. Suslenkov, a 30-year-old Russian who remains undefeated, delivered a final flurry of strikes before the official intervened to end the contest. Joyce now holds a professional record of 16-5, with five losses occurring within his previous six appearances.
This performance has sparked concerns regarding the future of the veteran’s career. Anthony Fowler, a fellow 2016 Rio Olympian, publicly lamented the nature of the loss on social media. While Joyce had claimed to be well-prepared for this opportunity, the result marks a difficult moment in a journey that once included a notable 2022 victory over Joseph Parker for the WBO interim heavyweight title.
