Former unified heavyweight champ Andy Ruiz will return to the ring for the first time in two years on September 4th and Matchroom Boxing has now confirmed his opponent is Polish heavyweight Damian Knyba.
Former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz is set to make his long-awaited return after two years away from the sport. Fresh off signing with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing, the former world titleholder is determined to launch another run at heavyweight glory and become a two-time champion.
Matchroom Boxing confirmed his return date of September 4th against Polish veteran Damian Knyba. the bout will headline a DAZN streamed show.
Ruiz (35-2-1, 22 KOs) etched his name into boxing history in June 2019 when he shocked the world by stopping Anthony Joshua in New York in one of heavyweight boxing's biggest title upsets to become Mexico's first heavyweight world champion.
His most recent outing came in August 2024, when he battled fellow American contender Jarrell Miller to a hard-fought majority draw in Los Angeles. That contest followed his consecutive victories over Chris Arreola and Luis Ortiz, both also staged in his hometown of L.A.
Looking to spoil Ruiz's comeback is Poland's Knyba (17-1, 11 KOs), who has ambitions of scoring the biggest victory of his career. Standing 6' 7", the towering heavyweight is aiming to rebound after suffering his first professional defeat against Agit Kabayel in a clash for the interim WBC heavyweight title in Germany earlier this year.
A win over Ruiz would immediately propel Knyba back into the world title conversation while halting the former champion's comeback before it truly begins.
Knyba will be fighting at the Prudential Center for the fourth time in his career, and in front of a likely, large contingent of Polish fight fans from the New York/New Jersey area.
From the Matchroom release,
“I’m going to be fighting in Newark, New Jersey on September 4 baby,” said Ruiz. “After we get this victory, I would love to fight all the guys that have the belts the Oleksandr Usyk vacated and we’re going to become a two-time champion next year, let’s get it.” “
I can’t wait to be back at the Prudential Center, my second home,” said Knyba. “I’m excited to be back in the ring in front of the New Jersey and New York fans, and they will fill the seats with white and red.”
Ruiz Jr’s clash with Knyba leads a stacked card in New Jersey, with the co-feature bout pitting another new Matchroom signing Vito Mielnicki Jr. against World Middleweight title challenger Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams. Mielnicki Jr. (23-1 13 KOs) penned a deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom and Boxlab Promotions recently, and immediately steps into the biggest fight of his career to date on home turf.
“This is going to be a great night in New Jersey,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “It’s great to have Andy as part of the Matchroom team, and everyone knows that at his best, he can be a devastating performer. Andy is driven to getting back into the World title mix, so September 4 is a must-win night for him against the giant Pole Knyba.
“Mielnicki Jr. vs. Williams is a cracking fight in the Middleweight division, with Vito stepping up in his first bout with Matchroom to take on the always-dangerous Ammo who has the World title experience to build on – the winner of this one is going to arrow in on a massive fight at 160lbs later this year.
... “There’s going to be plenty more top-class action to be added to the card on a night of first for so many, not least for us at Matchroom as we head to the fantastic Prudential Center side the first time with our first promotion as part of the exciting new series “The Fight” with TNT and DAZN – I cannot wait to get to The Garden State for this huge night on September 4.”
