Andy Ruiz’s Comeback Crashes as Damian Knyba Drops and Upsets Former Heavyweight Champion

Andy Ruiz Jr.’s attempt to fight his way back into the heavyweight championship picture took a major hit Friday night in Newark. Polish heavyweight Damian Knyba dropped Ruiz in the seventh round and earned a unanimous 12-round decision, winning by scores of 117-110 and 114-113 twice at Prudential Center. Knyba used his significant height and reach advantages to keep Ruiz at the end of his jab for long stretches while limiting the explosive inside combinations that once made Ruiz one of boxing’s most dangerous heavyweights.

The loss is especially damaging because Ruiz appeared to have done everything right before the fight. He weighed just 254.3 pounds, his lightest official weight since 2018, reunited with trainer Manny Robles and entered a new multi-fight relationship with Matchroom hoping to position himself for another championship opportunity. Instead, the 36-year-old was dropped and outworked after a layoff of more than two years.

Knyba, meanwhile, may have rescued his own heavyweight future. He entered the fight coming off a stoppage loss to Agit Kabayel but just scored the biggest victory of his career over a former unified champion. Ruiz’s name gave Knyba an opportunity. Friday night, Knyba took it.