Heavyweight boxers Andy Ruiz vs. Damian Knyba squared off last night (Friday, September 4, 2026) inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, for Matchroom Boxing. In a significant and surprising loss, Ruiz was nearly stopped and ended up on the wrong end of a lopsided decision. Ruiz’s first fight 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 landed with enough power that Ruiz began to hesitate and hold back his offense a bit, allowing Knyba to build an early lead. Every time Ruiz managed to get in, Knyba would wrap him in the clinch and stop his offensive. Ruiz picked up the pace in the fifth and sixth frames, beginning to find a place for his right hand and opening a cut for his opponent. However, Knyba dropped him with a double cross jab and a flurry of shots followed in the seventh. Ruiz was in all kinds of trouble, but managed to survive until the bell and returned to his corner after having suffered significant damage. Watch the clip of the knockdown below: Credit to Ruiz, he tried to make something happen in the second half of the fight. He got a couple of rounds in the process, but Knyba’s stinging jab and clinch work stopped any potential comeback efforts. In classic boxing style, two of the cards had the fight 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 the best mark of the Polish heavyweight’s career. It’s also a big setback for Ruiz, who was hoping to return from his layoff and build momentum toward another championship fight. Despite the loss, Ruiz insisted in the post-fight interview that he will not retire, so we can expect Ruiz to return at least one more time. Official result: Knyba def. Ruiz by unanimous decision
