Joe Joyce’s difficult stretch continued Saturday night as rising Russian heavyweight Artem Suslenkov scored the biggest victory of his career with an 11th-round stoppage at VTB Arena in Moscow.
Suslenkov (15-0, 9 KOs) overwhelmed the veteran contender late in the fight, forcing referee Gustavo Padilla to wave off the contest after Joyce signaled he could no longer continue.
The victory extends Suslenkov’s unbeaten record while raising his stock in the heavyweight division.
After spending much of the fight beating Joyce to the punch with superior speed and cleaner combinations, Suslenkov broke through in the latter stages of the 11th round. A sharp straight right hand followed by a crushing left hook visibly hurt Joyce, who immediately began waving his right hand to indicate he had enough.
As Joyce backed toward his corner, Suslenkov unleashed a final barrage of punches before Padilla stepped in to stop the bout. The official stoppage gave Suslenkov his third consecutive knockout victory.
Despite giving away significant size, Suslenkov consistently looked like the fresher and more explosive fighter. Joyce entered the contest holding a five-inch height advantage and outweighed the Russian by 52 pounds, but the physical advantages never translated into sustained success.
Instead, Suslenkov repeatedly slipped inside Joyce’s jab and landed crisp combinations through the veteran’s high guard. While Joyce enjoyed brief moments throughout the fight, he was unable to match the younger fighter’s hand speed or activity.
Career-Defining Victory
The win represents the most significant result of Suslenkov’s professional career. The undefeated 30-year-old from Volgograd entered the bout ranked No. 10 by the WBA and now appears poised to climb even higher in the heavyweight rankings.
With victories becoming increasingly difficult to find among the division’s established names, Suslenkov announced himself as another contender worth watching.
Joyce’s Career at a Crossroads
For Joyce, the loss raises even more questions about his future. The defeat marks his third consecutive loss and fifth in his last six fights, a stunning reversal for a fighter who was once viewed as one of the heavyweight division’s most dangerous contenders. Now 40 years old, Joyce has struggled to overcome younger opponents with greater speed and athleticism, a trend that continued against Suslenkov.
Once known for his granite chin and relentless pressure, Joyce was unable to absorb the sustained punishment Saturday before ultimately signaling he could not continue.
Heavyweight Card in Moscow
The bout served as the co-main event of a card headlined by WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev, who defended his title against Germany’s Peter Kadiru.
While the championship bout topped the billing, Suslenkov’s breakout performance may ultimately become the evening’s biggest storyline as another new contender emerges in the rapidly evolving heavyweight division.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
