Andy Ruiz Jr calls for rematch after defeat to Damian Knyba: "I'd love to run it back and do things a lot different"

Andy Ruiz Jr has vowed to carry on after losing his comeback fight to Damian Knyba

Now aged 36, Andy Ruiz Jr. (35-3-1, 22 KOs) fell to his third defeat to Poland's Damian Knyba (18-1, 11 KOs) on Friday night, September 4 in New Jersey.

Back in the ring for the first time in two years, Ruiz Jr has been beset by injuries and was taking part in just his fourth fight since losing the rematch to Anthony Joshua in December 2019.

He looked a shadow of his former self at the Prudential Center in Newark, saved by the bell after scrambling back to his feet following a knockdown in the seventh, he eventually lost by a unanimous points decision.

Judges scored the fight 117-110, 114-113 and 114-113 in favour of the Pole, who took his record to 18 wins and one defeat, but Ruiz Jr was quick to demand a rematch.

"I don't know, I think it was just him holding," said Ruiz Jr, who recently signed up with British promoter Eddie Hearn.

"Every time I tried to come in, he'd hold me really tight, and I just couldn't let my combinations go.

"He played a good game plan, but I'd love to run it back and do things a lot different."

AJ's former conqueror argued that he was simply rusty after taking his first fight since drawing with American Jarrell Miller in August 2024.

"It was just a long layoff, and it was a great opponent," he argued.

"I didn't want to take an easy fight, so that's why I took Damian. He's a big guy. But we've got to take risks. I've still got it in me, man. I've just got to stay active and I want to fight again."

There was a significant size difference between the 6'2" Ruiz and the 6'7" Knyba, who towered over the Mexican-American.

From California, Ruiz was performing well, able to land jabs and body shots despite the 5" height deficit. But then the tide turned in the seventh stanza. A straight right-left combination from the prominent Pole suddenly stunned Ruiz and made his legs turn to jelly. The brave boxer momentarily stayed up, but another 10 heats later and he was crumpled to the canvas. Referee David Franciosi looked like he was stepping to stop the onslaught but after Ruiz went down, the official gave him a count instead. He went down with 34 seconds to go in the round but the action didn't resume until they were only 10 seconds remaining, which the former world champion held on for dear life.

The enthused European continued to land clean shots on his target, who walked forward crudely and carelessly as he ran out of ideas. The 30-year-old Knyba jabbed away with his superior reach and boxed cleverly towards a points victory. According to BoxRec, Knyba's 86" reach was 12" longer than his shorter foe's.

Ruiz's face told the story at the final bell - battered and bruised, his left eye almost closed, and his reaction to the result showed no surprise at all.

Ruiz's latest defeat came on the exact same date as his last win, four years ago.

DID YOU KNOW? Andy Ruiz Jr. earned his nickname 'The Destroyer' long before boxing, due to his destructive ability to break every toy he ever owned.