Andy Ruiz Jr. is returning to the ring after a two-year hiatus. On September 4, the former world heavyweight champion will face Damian Knyba.
Andy Ruiz Jr. is returning to the boxing ring after a break of about two years. The former unified heavyweight world champion will face Damian Knyba on September 4 at the Prudential Center in Newark. For Ruiz, this will also be his first fight under the Matchroom Boxing banner.
However, the 36-year-old is not in for an easy fight. Knyba has a record of 17 wins and just one loss. The 2.01-meter-tall Pole has only been defeated once so far, by Agit Kabayel, who stopped him early in January. Ruiz caused one of the biggest upsets in recent boxing history in 2019 when he knocked out Anthony Joshua and secured several world championship belts. Recently, however, things had gone quiet around the American. Now he’s looking to make a successful comeback.
“After this victory, I’d love to fight all the guys who now hold the belts vacated by Oleksandr Usyk,” Ruiz said. “Next year, we’ll be world champions again.” Knyba is also looking forward to the big stage. “I can’t wait to box at the Prudential Center again. The fans from New Jersey and New York will fill the arena with white and red,” the Polish fighter announced. The fight night will be broadcast in the U.S. on TNT, truTV, and DAZN, and internationally on DAZN.
Text by Robin Josten