Former world heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr lost a unanimous points decision to Poland’s Damian Knyba in New Jersey, according to fight reports, prompting the 36-year-old American to immediately demand a rematch despite looking a shadow of his former self following a long layoff.
Andy Ruiz Jr Seeks Rematch After Unanimous Decision Loss to Damian Knyba
Andy Ruiz Jr vowed to carry on in professional boxing after suffering a hard-fought defeat at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Judges scored the bout 117-110, 114-113, and 114-113 in favor of Knyba, pushing the Polish heavyweight’s professional record to 18 wins and one defeat. For Ruiz Jr, the setback marks another difficult chapter in a career that has faced multiple injury setbacks.
Did you know? Andy Ruiz Jr stunned the sports world seven years ago by defeating Anthony Joshua to capture world titles, before dropping the immediate rematch in December 2019.
Ring Rust and Tactical Clamping Hinder Ruiz’s Comeback
Ruiz Jr argued that ring rust played a major factor in his performance at the Prudential Center. The Newark bout was just his fourth appearance since his 2019 loss to Joshua, following a draw with American Jarrell Miller in August 2024. According to Ruiz Jr, Knyba’s tactical approach neutralized his trademark offensive output.
“I don’t know, I think it was just him holding,” Ruiz Jr stated regarding Knyba’s strategy. “Every time I tried to come in, he’d hold me really tight, and I just couldn’t let my combinations go. He played a good game plan, but I’d love to run it back and do things a lot different.”
Surviving the Knockdown and Looking Toward Future Bouts
The former world champion barely survived in New Jersey. Ruiz Jr was dropped in the seventh round and scrambled back to his feet, ultimately saved by the bell.
Despite taking heavy damage and absorbing his defeat, the veteran contender insisted he is not ready to hang up his gloves. “It was just a long layoff, and it was a great opponent,” Ruiz Jr said. “I didn’t want to take an easy fight, so that’s why I took Damian. He’s a big guy. But we’ve got to take risks. I’ve still got it in me, man. I’ve just got to stay active and I want to fight again.”
Pro Tip: Fighters returning from multi-year layoffs frequently struggle with distance and conditioning in the mid-to-late rounds, making activity level a critical metric for evaluating veteran comebacks in heavyweight boxing analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the boxing match between Andy Ruiz Jr and Damian Knyba?
Damian Knyba won the fight by unanimous decision, with judges scoring the bout 117-110, 114-113, and 114-113 in favor of the Polish heavyweight.
What was Andy Ruiz Jr’s record before fighting Damian Knyba?
Prior to facing Knyba at the Prudential Center in Newark, Ruiz Jr had stepped into the ring only three times since his December 2019 rematch loss to Anthony Joshua, which included a draw against Jarrell Miller in August 2024.
Will there be a rematch between Andy Ruiz Jr and Damian Knyba?
Andy Ruiz Jr has publicly demanded a rematch, stating he would love to run it back, though no official agreement or venue has been confirmed by promoters.
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