Damian Knyba Drops Andy Ruiz Jr and Wins Unanimous Decision

Damian Knyba defeated former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr by unanimous decision at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, spoiling Ruiz's first appearance in the ring for two years. BBC Sport reported that the three judges scored the contest 117-110, 114-113 and 114-113 for the Polish heavyweight.

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The decisive moment came in the seventh round, when Knyba knocked Ruiz down. According to the BBC's account, Ruiz managed to get back to his feet and was saved by the bell, allowing him to continue to the final decision. Knyba's victory improved his professional record to 18 wins and one defeat.

Ruiz, 36, was competing for only the fourth time since his December 2019 rematch defeat by Anthony Joshua. His previous outing came in August 2024, when he fought American heavyweight Jarrell Miller to a draw. The long period of limited activity formed the backdrop to a demanding comeback assignment against Knyba rather than a lower-risk opponent.

The result added a third defeat to Ruiz's professional record, which now stands at 35 victories, including 22 knockouts, one draw and three losses. His career-defining victory remains his 2019 upset of Joshua, when Ruiz captured the Briton's heavyweight world titles before losing them back in their rematch later that year.

After the bout, Ruiz pointed to Knyba's holding as a factor that prevented him from producing combinations, while also crediting his opponent's game plan. He said he wanted a rematch and maintained that the two-year layoff had left him rusty. Ruiz recently signed with British promoter Eddie Hearn, according to BBC Sport.

Despite the setback, Ruiz indicated that he intends to keep boxing and wants a quicker return to action. For Knyba, the win over a former world champion represents a significant result after his first career defeat. Any rematch or next opponent remains unconfirmed, but the Newark verdict gives Knyba the immediate momentum while leaving Ruiz to rebuild after another long absence.