Joe Joyce will end a year-plus hiatus from the ring when he faces Russian heavyweight Artem Suslenkov (17-1 including IBA Pro and World Series of Boxing bouts) this July in Moscow. The 2016 Olympic silver medal winner will form part of the undercard beneath gold-medal rival Tony Yoka's headline bout with WBA regular champion Murat Gassiev. Joyce faced questions about his future after his last bout, when he suffered a unanimous decision loss against Filip Hrgovic in Manchester. But despite having lost four of his past five fights, the Olympian is determined to fight on, and believes he can deliver the goods in his comeback. "I've spent the last year preparing, training and wanting to be back in the ring," Joyce was quoted by Sky Sports News. "My team and I are locked in."

 

Suslenkov echoed his rival's sentiments, and suggested that an opponent of the Briton's calibre would allow him to showcase his own pro growth. "Joyce is a powerful opponent with strong technique and vast experience," Suslenkov said. This is a serious challenge. I feel both excitement and full focus.

 

"Meticulous preparation and the right tactics to neutralise his strengths will be crucial. This is a chance to show my level and give the fans something to cheer about."

 

Forty years old and determined to prove he still belongs among the glamour division's bigger names, Joe Joyce is finally back in action. Truthfully, many had wondered if the star had opted to quietly reverse his original call to fight on since last April's loss to Hrgovic. Throw in his defeat to Derek Chisora, and those two reverses against Zhilei Zhang, and there must be questions for the star's team.

 

Joyce has arguably looked a shadow of his former self in his last few outings. Frank Warren raised concerns after his last outing. But for now, Joyce will soldier on, ironically back in the reach of his old amateur foe Tony Yoka from a decade ago.