Tony Yoka has been forced out of his July 11 bout against WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev due to a back injury. Joe Joyce is the frontrunner to step in as replacement, having already been booked on the same card against Artem Suslenkov. Should Joyce move to face Gassiev, a new opponent would be sought for Suslenkov.
French heavyweight Tony Yoka has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled July 11 showdown with WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev, citing a back injury that leaves the high-profile bout in jeopardy just days before it was set to take place.
With Yoka out, attention has quickly turned to Joe Joyce as the leading candidate to step in and challenge Gassiev for the title. Joyce is already scheduled to appear on the same card, where he is set to face Artem Suslenkov. If Joyce accepts the step up to face the champion, promoters would then need to source a fresh opponent for Suslenkov.
Why it matters
- A late replacement fight for a heavyweight title adds significant uncertainty to the bout's competitive balance.
- Joyce moving up to face Gassiev would elevate his card placement and put a world title within reach at short notice.
- Suslenkov's place on the card remains in flux, depending entirely on whether Joyce accepts the new assignment.
- The situation leaves multiple heavyweights' July 11 plans unsettled with less than two weeks until fight night.
No fighter data was available in the verified database for Yoka, Gassiev, Joyce, or Suslenkov at the time of publication, so specific records and rankings have been omitted. The withdrawal is confirmed, while Joyce's involvement as replacement remains the frontrunner scenario rather than a finalised agreement.
