Government warns Joe Joyce against travelling to Russia for Moscow fight
The UK Government has warned Joe Joyce against travelling to Russia after the British heavyweight boxer agreed to fight Artem Suslenkov in Moscow next month.
The 2016 Olympic silver medallist will head to the 14,000-capacity VTB Arena next month to take on the unbeaten Suslenkov, from Volgograd, amid Russia’s continued military operation in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin’s war has led to a widespread boycott from the West against sporting events taking place in Russia, despite Russian athletes now being able to compete overseas.
A spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport told City PM: “Our position remains that we strongly advise British athletes not to travel to Russia to participate in sports events whilst the illegal invasion of Ukraine continues.”
Joyce, 40, is due to feature on the undercard of a fight night headlined by a clash between Murat “Iron” Gassiev, from Russia, and France’s Tony Yoka.
The Londoner, who is in Frank Warren’s Queensberry stable alongside the likes of Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois and Agit Kabayel, won his first 15 professional fights but is on a poor run of one win in his last five bouts, beating Kash Ali but losing to Derek Chisora, Filip Hrgovic and Zhilei Zhang on two occasions.
“I’ve spent the last year preparing, training and wanting to be back in the ring,” Joyce said.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to travel to Russia and challenge for the WBA Continental Heavyweight title on 11 July.”
Russia has not hosted a major sporting event since the 2021 Russian Grand Prix, won by Lewis Hamilton, but did stage a multi-sport event for countries that are part of the BRICS economic bloc – such as Russia, Uzbekistan, China and Brazil.
Since the invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 a number of significant figures have been sanctioned by the UK Government, including Roman Abramovich in a move that forced the oligarch to sell Premier League club Chelsea.
“Thank you to IBA Pro for the opportunity,” Joyce added. “My team and I are locked in and Moscow should get ready for a big performance.”
Queensberry Promotions was approached for comment.