All the details you need to tune in to watch Joe Joyce vs Ivica Bacurin
Busy Commonwealth heavyweight champion Joe Joyce (4-0) will defend his unbeaten record against stand-in opponent Ivica Bacurin (29-13-1), the Croatian replacing Ghanian Richard Lartey at the last-minute.
The ‘Juggernaut', 32 from Putney in South West London, had planned to move fast to make the first defence of the title that he won only last month at London’s O2 Arena with a devastating second-round KO of Lenroy Thomas, but the change of opponent means that he the Commonwealth strap can't be up for grabs in this 10-round contest.
In registering that stunning victory over Thomas, Joyce became the first ever heavyweight boxer to win the prestigious Commonwealth title in just his fourth fight – and with only 12 professional rounds under his belt.
The 2016 Olympic Silver Medallist now faces his fifth foe in the pros and BBN have provided all the details you need for the forthcoming heavyweight battle:
Date
The bout takes place on Friday June 15
Time
Coverage starts at 9pm with ringwalks for main fight expected between 9:30pm-10pm
Venue
York Hall, Bethnal Green, London
Opponent
Ghanaian heavyweight champion Richard Lartey has been replaced by Ivica Bacurin, a former Tony Bellew victim who is lacking in danger and who has been defeated 13 times in a 43-fight career.
Bacurin has fought all over the world and is known to British fight fans for going rounds with Dillian Whyte, who stopped him in six, as well as the aforementioned Liverpudlian hero.
He also fought Michael Wallisch for the WBO heavyweight title in 2016, losing over 12, and has been stopped only five times in a 10-year pro career.
Rounds scheduled
8 three-minute rounds at heavyweight
TV Coverage
Coverage is live and exclusive on free-to-air channel Dave between 9pm-11pm
Undercard highlights
There's more Commonwealth title action in the form of the vacant female lightweight version being contested between Sam 'SJ' Smith (8-1) and 'The Massacre from Malawi' Anisha Basheel (7-5). The 20-year-old African earned her mantle by knocking out all seven of her victims so her 38-year-old counterpart from Leeds will need to be on her top form on the night.
Southern Area lightweight champion Jumanne Camero (6-2) defends his title to Luton's Michael Devine (16-5-1) over 10 championship rounds.
Nigerian middleweight Linus Udofia (8-0) and light-heavyweight Michael Page (1-0) are ones to watch.
Tickets
Tickets start at £43.20 available from iboxingtickets.com