Heavyweight boxers Andy Ruiz vs. Damian Knyba squared off last night (Fri., Sept. 4, 2026) inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey for Matchroom boxing. In a significant upset loss, Ruiz was nearly stopped and ended up on the wrong side of a lopsided decision.
Ruiz’s first bout in two years did not start well. Knyba established his long jab in the early rounds, using it to score points and keep Ruiz’s right hand away. The jab was landing with enough pop that Ruiz started to hesitate and withhold his offense a bit, allowing Knyba to build an early lead. Whenever Ruiz did manage to get inside, Knyba would wrap him up in the clinch and stall his offense.
Ruiz picked up the pace in the fifth and sixth frame, starting to find a home for his right hand and opening a cut on his opponent. However, Knyba floored him with a double jab-cross and follow up flurry of shots in the seventh. Ruiz was in all sorts of trouble, but he managed to survive to the bell, returning to his corner having taken significant damage.
Check out the knockdown clip below:
Credit to Ruiz, he tried to make something happen in the later half of the fight. He picked up a couple rounds in the process, but the stabbing jab and clinch work of Knyba halted any potential comeback effort. In classic boxing fashion, two of the scorecards had the bout strangely close, even if the actual fight produced a clear victor. The final scorecards were (117-110, 114-113, 114-113) after 12 rounds of action.
This victory definitely stands out as a career-best for the Polish Heavyweight. It’s also a major setback for Ruiz, who was hoping to return from his layoff and build momentum towards another championship fight. Despite the loss, Ruiz was adamant in the post-fight interview that he’s not retiring, so we can expect Ruiz to return at least once more.
Official result: Knyba def. Ruiz via unanimous decision
