Three Fights Joe Joyce Should Take Next After Russian Setback

Joe Joyce's eleventh-round stoppage loss to Artem Suslenkov in Russia marked his third straight defeat, a stunning collapse for a fighter who was knocking on the door of a world title shot just eighteen months ago. The Juggernaut's iron chin finally cracked against Zhilei Zhang twice in 2023, and now the bizarre finish in Chelyabinsk raises urgent questions about what comes next. At thirty-nine and with mileage from a deep amateur career, Joyce needs smart matchmaking — fights that either restore credibility or provide clarity about his future.

The first fight Joyce should pursue is a domestic grudge match with Fabio Wardley. The British heavyweight champion defended his belt against Frazer Clarke in a brutal rematch earlier this year, and Joyce represents both a name opponent and a winnable assignment for Wardley. For Joyce, facing a strong domestic rival on a UK card would give him the home advantage he lacked in Russia, and Wardley's come-forward style could suit the Juggernaut's jab-heavy countering approach. The narrative hook writes itself: former world title challenger seeking redemption against the current British kingpin. If Joyce can trouble Wardley's chin with that ramrod jab, it would signal he still belongs in meaningful fights. If Wardley breaks him down, the message becomes equally clear.

Option two: a rematch with Derek Chisora. The two fought in July 2022, with Joyce stopping Del Boy in ten rounds, but that was before the Zhang losses exposed vulnerabilities in Joyce's game. Chisora, now forty-one himself, remains active on the British circuit and still draws interest. A second meeting would test whether Joyce can replicate that performance or whether the version that showed up against Suslenkov is now the permanent reality. Chisora's durability and willingness to trade punches would create action, and the fight carries minimal risk to either man's legacy at this stage. It's a credible stepping stone, nothing more — but Joyce needs credible right now.

The third and most ambitious option: a stay-busy fight against an unbeaten domestic prospect like Johnny Fisher or Frazer Clarke. Fisher, the Romford heavyweight with fifteen straight knockouts, represents the new generation trying to break through. Clarke, Joyce's former Olympic teammate, just went twenty-four brutal rounds with Wardley and could use a name on the resume. Either matchup would cast Joyce as the veteran gatekeeper testing young lions — a role that could extend his career if he can still bully lesser opposition with volume punching. The stylistic clash favors Joyce against both men if his body holds up, but that's the central question now. These fights would answer whether he can still compete or whether three straight losses have permanently shifted him into opponent territory.

Joyce needs to choose his path carefully. Another loss could end his relevance entirely. A signature win, even against a Wardley or Fisher, could buy him one more meaningful payday. But the clock is ticking, and the Juggernaut's armor has cracked in ways that don't repair easily at this age.