Damian Knyba
Nobody expected the script to flip quite like this in Newark. Damian Knyba walked into the Prudential Center and pulled off a massive upset over former heavyweight king Andy Ruiz Jr., taking home a hard-fought unanimous decision. The physical mismatch was obvious on paper, but seeing Knyba execute his game plan so perfectly to secure the biggest win of his life was something else entirely.
The Jab That Controlled the Pacing
You can’t teach size, and Knyba used every bit of his 6-foot-7 frame and 86-inch reach to keep the action at a distance. The 30-year-old Polish heavyweight spent all 12 rounds constantly peppering Ruiz with a stiff, heavy jab. Without the necessary foot speed, length, or punch output, Ruiz simply couldn’t find a reliable way past those towering physical advantages.
A Dramatic Seventh-Round Knockdown
Things almost wrapped up early. Knyba uncorked a nasty combination in the seventh round that sent the former unified champ straight to the canvas. Referee David Franciosi looked ready to wave it off right then and there. Ruiz somehow beat the count, and Franciosi ended up giving him plenty of time to clear his head before letting the fight continue.
A Brief Rally Falls Short
To his credit, Ruiz dug deep and mounted a spirited comeback through the eighth and ninth rounds. But Knyba didn’t panic. He just went right back to that long jab, dictating the pace and regaining control of the ring. That discipline kept him alive on the scorecards. Judges Glenn Feldman and Kevin Morgan saw it razor-thin at 114-113, while the third judge had it a much more comfortable 117-110 for Knyba.
Time to Hang Up the Gloves?
Now, everyone is wondering what comes next for Ruiz. He turns 37 next week and has stepped into the ring exactly once in the last four years. The DAZN broadcast booth didn’t mince words after the final bell. With legends like Shawn Porter, Timothy Bradley, and Terence Crawford on the mics, the consensus was clear: it might just be time for Ruiz to call it a career.
What Comes Next for Knyba?
As for Knyba, this win changes everything. It’s the perfect palate cleanser after getting stopped by Agit Kabayel back in January. Moving his record to 17-2, he’s successfully carved out a great foundation in the US, especially with those lively Polish crowds turning up for him in New Jersey. Suddenly, he’s right back in the conversation for major heavyweight clashes.
Full Prudential Center Fight Card Results
The main event wasn’t the only drama on the card. Here’s a quick look at how the rest of the fights played out in Newark:
| Division | Matchup | Result |
| Heavyweight | Damian Knyba vs. Andy Ruiz Jr. | Knyba by UD (117-110, 114-113, 114-113) |
| Middleweight | Vito Mielnicki Jr. vs. Austin Williams | Mielnicki by UD (98-91, 98-91, 98-91) |
| Lightweight | Eridson Garcia vs. Alan Chaves | Garcia by UD (99-87, 99-88, 98-88) |
| Super Featherweight | Zaquin Moses vs. Angel Antonio Contreras | Moses by TKO (Round 5, corner stoppage) |
| Middleweight | Kahshad Elliott vs. Jean Pierre Valencia | Elliott by Decision |
| Welterweight | Brooke Mullen vs. Bria Miller | Mullen by Decision |
| Middleweight | Jordan Simpson vs. Michael McDonald | Simpson by Stoppage |
| Super Bantamweight | Dennis Thompson vs. Jose Casillas | Thompson by Decision (80-72, 79-73, 77-75) |
