Joe Joyce has played down suggestions that he should call time on his professional boxing career, hinting at a potential future move to Dana White's Zuffa Boxing promotion.
The former heavyweight world title contender has endured a torrid run in the sport since being dispossessed of his WBO 'Interim' belt by Zhilei Zhang three years ago.
Successive losses at the hands of the hard-hitting Chinese boxer has been followed by three more defeats, with former Queensberry star Joyce's only victory in that time coming against domestic rival Kash Ali in the spring of 2024.
A shock stoppage loss against the unheralded Russian Artem Suslenkov in July led to many of the fight game's biggest names urging the 40-year-old to draw the curtain upon his career, however, he has since signalled his desire to carry on.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Joyce announced that he fully intends to extend his career and opened the door to a potential move to UFC supremo White's recently-formed boxing stable, Zuffa.
"I would be open to having a conversation with everyone, see what’s out there, what’s about," he said.
"I’m excited to get back in the ring. I had quite a tough test in Moscow. It was difficult to get a fight here in the UK, so I had to go there on rival turf.
"I’m excited to get back in the ring and fight someone exciting, so let's see what happens.
I will keep moving forward and having some exciting nights in boxing, there are plenty of opportunities. I'd be open to having a conversation with Zuffa Boxing and Dana White.
- Joe Joyce (talkSPORT)
Whether White would be interested in snapping up free agent Joyce remains to be seen though, especially with the blue-riband division veteran having been stopped in such emphatic circumstances last time out.
The 40-year-old, who was fighting on Russian soil for the first time, had no answer to the questions being asked of him by Suslenkov, forcing the referee to draw a halt to proceedings in the 11th round.
Whilst Joyce initially felt he was in control of the fight and on course for a morale-boosting victory, he has now retracted his claims.
"You know when you go out and you can't remember the night before... well it was kind of like that," he acknowledged.
"I felt like I was winning the fight, and then I watched it back, and I was like 'Whoa'!
"I think what might have happened, I may have taken a big shot - I couldn't really see it or whatever, but I am not retiring."
