Joyce steps in for Yoka to face Gassiev for WBA heavyweight belt
At 40, the Briton gets a late title shot in Moscow after Yoka’s back injury forces a reshuffle in the main event, with WBA ratification due by July 5.
Joe Joyce, 40, is set to fight Murat Gassiev for the WBA heavyweight title on July 11 in Moscow after Tony Yoka withdrew with a back injury. The late replacement makes Joyce the leading candidate to headline the card at VTB Arena, a venue already staged for elite heavyweight action. Joyce’s last outing ended in a loss to Filip Hrgovic in May, a result that pushed him to the fringes of title contention.
Gassiev, meanwhile, holds the WBA interim belt and is in line for official elevation if the sanctioning body confirms the change before the bout. WBA president Gilberto J. Mendoza confirmed the organization is reviewing the paperwork for Joyce’s eligibility, with a decision expected within days.
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