By Gabriel J Gonzalez
Sat, Sep 5 2026
Damian Knyba Batters Ruiz To Victory
Damian Knyba upset former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. by unanimous decision on Friday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Knyba used his height and reach advantage to control much of the fight behind a steady jab, keeping Ruiz on the outside and preventing the former champion from getting his combinations going. Ruiz, fighting for the first time since his 2024 draw with Jarrell Miller, struggled to close the distance and looked rusty in the early rounds.
The turning point came in the seventh, when Knyba landed a hard combination that put Ruiz on the canvas. Ruiz got back to his feet but was badly hurt and barely made it out of the round. The knockdown appeared to spur him on, and he produced his best work in the eighth and ninth, pressing forward and having some success with his right hand and to the body.
Knyba regained control after that, returning to his jab and using his movement to keep Ruiz from putting together a late run. After 12 rounds he was awarded the unanimous decision by scores of 117-110 and 114-113 twice. Knyba's record now stands at 18-1 (11 KOs), Ruiz's at 35-3-1 (22 KOs).
The result is a significant setback for the 36-year-old Ruiz, who entered the fight looking to begin another run toward a heavyweight world title. Knyba, who lost to Agit Kabayel in January, returns to the heavyweight picture with a win over a former unified champion.
On the undercard, Vito Mielnicki Jr. beat Austin "Ammo" Williams by unanimous decision, 98-91 on all three cards. Eridson Garcia produced another upset on the card, dropping the heavily favored Alan Chaves four times en route to a unanimous decision by scores of 99-87, 99-88 and 98-88.
Zaquin Moses stopped Angel Antonio Contreras in the fifth round. Kahshad Elliott beat Jean Pierre Valencia on points, and Brooke Mullen took a decision over Bria Miller. Jordan Simpson stopped Michael McDonald in his professional debut. Dennis Thompson defeated Jose Casillas by unanimous decision, 80-72, 79-73 and 77-75.
Knyba used his height and reach advantage to control much of the fight behind a steady jab, keeping Ruiz on the outside and preventing the former champion from getting his combinations going. Ruiz, fighting for the first time since his 2024 draw with Jarrell Miller, struggled to close the distance and looked rusty in the early rounds.
The turning point came in the seventh, when Knyba landed a hard combination that put Ruiz on the canvas. Ruiz got back to his feet but was badly hurt and barely made it out of the round. The knockdown appeared to spur him on, and he produced his best work in the eighth and ninth, pressing forward and having some success with his right hand and to the body.
Knyba regained control after that, returning to his jab and using his movement to keep Ruiz from putting together a late run. After 12 rounds he was awarded the unanimous decision by scores of 117-110 and 114-113 twice. Knyba's record now stands at 18-1 (11 KOs), Ruiz's at 35-3-1 (22 KOs).
The result is a significant setback for the 36-year-old Ruiz, who entered the fight looking to begin another run toward a heavyweight world title. Knyba, who lost to Agit Kabayel in January, returns to the heavyweight picture with a win over a former unified champion.
On the undercard, Vito Mielnicki Jr. beat Austin "Ammo" Williams by unanimous decision, 98-91 on all three cards. Eridson Garcia produced another upset on the card, dropping the heavily favored Alan Chaves four times en route to a unanimous decision by scores of 99-87, 99-88 and 98-88.
Zaquin Moses stopped Angel Antonio Contreras in the fifth round. Kahshad Elliott beat Jean Pierre Valencia on points, and Brooke Mullen took a decision over Bria Miller. Jordan Simpson stopped Michael McDonald in his professional debut. Dennis Thompson defeated Jose Casillas by unanimous decision, 80-72, 79-73 and 77-75.