Joe Joyce's first fight since signing a co-promotional deal with Queensberry Promotions has been revealed.
The unbeaten heavyweight prospect will defend his WBA Gold title against Alexander Ustinov on May 18 at Lamex Stadium in Stevenage, England.
Joyce won the WBA Gold heavyweight title with a dominant performance against Bermane Stiverne back in February at the O2 Arena. Joyce stopped Stiverne in the sixth round to not only win the Gold title, but also retain his Commonwealth title on the undercard of James DeGale vs. Chris Eubank Jr.
Ustinov once held the now-defunct European Boxing Association heavyweight title and was a rising contender until he was knocked out by Kubrat Pulev in 2012, snapping his 27-fight win streak. Since then, Ustinov has won seven of last nine fights, but is currently on a two-fight losing streak. Ustinov last fought in November 2018 when he was stopped by Michael Hunter in the ninth round.
A win over Ustinov could potentially clear the last hurdle for a British heavyweight clash against fellow prospect Daniel Dubois. The two boxers are fighting under Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions and the British Boxing Board of Control ordered them to fight for the vacant British heavyweight title. Dubois recently knocked out Richard Lartey in the fourth round to win the WBO Global title.
The May 18 card will be headlined by Billy Joe Saunders vs. Shefat Isufi for the interim WBO super middleweight title. Also on the card is the Queensberry Promotions debut British super bantamweight titleholder Brad Foster. Foster will defend his title against Ashley Lane with Lane's Commonwealth title on the line as well.