Joe Joyce is the leading candidate to challenge Murat Gassiev for the WBA heavyweight title on July 11 in Moscow. Joyce could replace the injured Tony Yoka, providing an unexpected world title opportunity despite entering the bout on a two-fight losing streak.
The potential main event slot opened after Yoka withdrew from his scheduled contest with Gassiev due to a back injury suffered in training. With the 40-year-old Joyce already set to compete on the undercard against Artem Suslenkov, he presents the most straightforward replacement for event organizers. If confirmed, the fight would move Joyce from a 10-round preliminary bout directly into a world championship challenge.
This opportunity arrives during a difficult period in Joyce’s career. The British fighter (16-4, 15 KOs) has lost four of his last five contests, a sharp downturn after starting his professional run with 15 consecutive wins. He has not fought since an April 2025 decision loss to Filip Hrgovic, which followed defeats to Derek Chisora and two stoppage losses to Zhilei Zhang.
His potential opponent, Murat Gassiev (33-2, 26 KOs), was recently elevated from secondary to full WBA heavyweight champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt. The Russian is also on a rebuilding path. After a highly successful career at cruiserweight, his transition to the heavyweight division has included a 2023 decision loss to Otto Wallin. Gassiev has since secured victories over Ken Ljungquist and Jeremiah Milton before knocking out Kubrat Pulev to win the secondary title.
Joyce’s potential selection highlights the limited depth of available contenders in the heavyweight division. His name recognition and availability make him a logical, if unlikely, challenger. For Joyce, the fight represents a sudden and critical chance to reclaim top-tier status. For Gassiev, it is a mandatory first defense against a veteran opponent who remains dangerous despite his recent record. An official announcement on the replacement has not yet been made.
