Boxing
‘Why not me?’ Andy Ruiz Jr. eyes heavyweight title glory after two-year layoff
Ruiz vs. Knyba live on DAZN - TOMORROW
NEWARK, N.J. — Eddie Hearn took to the podium at the Prudential Center on Wednesday and gave Andy Ruiz Jr.’s son, AJ, a once over almost in awe. He then briefly let the media in on his surreal shock.
“He’s doubled in size, he’s a man now,” Hearn said during the start of the press conference, referring to Ruiz’ now 14-year-old son, “and that’s when we know we’re getting old.”
The Matchroom Boxing chairman vividly remembers watching Ruiz' son, then seven, celebrating in the ring after his dad produced one of the biggest upsets in boxing history via a seventh-round TKO of Hearn’s charge, Anthony Joshua, at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
The jaw-dropping win made Ruiz the unified heavyweight world champion in June 2019. As heartbreaking of a night it was for Joshua and the Matchroom Boxing team, Hearn couldn’t help but to feel happy for Ruiz and his son in their moment of euphoria.
Well, all these years later, the boxing promoter hopes to feel joy alongside Ruiz and his son in a suddenly wide open heavyweight division, beginning with Friday night.
That’s when Ruiz makes his return to the ring following a two-year layoff to face Polish giant Damian Knyba at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and live on DAZN and TNT.
Ruiz ready to take advantage of open division
Ruiz is getting back to the sweet science after signing a multi-fight deal with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing in July.
At 36, ‘The Destroyer’ also regained the services of longtime trainer Manny Robles, who worked Ruiz’ corner the night he shook up the boxing universe with an improbable victory over Joshua.
“I was telling my whole team, my trainer, it feels like déjà vu,” Ruiz exclusively told DAZN News following the press conference about being in Newark and so close to New York City where he had his biggest win.
“It feels like this is another chapter, like another thing that’s happening, a new beginning.”
The former unified champ’s restart coincides with the heavyweight division experiencing its own rehaul. Oleksandr Usyk suddenly vacating his titles in June left the glamour division up for grabs.
Though all four of its titles are now occupied, the division showed its volatility last weekend when Filip Hrgovic outlasted Moses Itauma in a grand upset of his own. It was just a reminder that anyone can truly defeat anyone at heavyweight.
The fight and the overall status of the division also left Ruiz feeling like ‘why not him?’
“There’s more opportunity, especially for contenders, fighters that want the title shot,” Ruiz said of the heavyweight landscape.
“They don’t have to wait just for one person. They don’t have to wait in line and wait for so long. Now that the belts are spread out, it gives us more hope, it gives us more opportunities.
“Everybody wants to become a champion and that’s my dream,” he tacked on, “to become a two-time heavyweight champion of the world.”
That dream back to the top comes after Ruiz endured several bumps along his journey the past several years, including having to overcome injuries that required surgeries, a carousel of trainer changes and trying to renew his discipline and focus.
He appeared Wednesday looking as svelte of a heavyweight as the boxing world has seen him. If his vaunted quick hands can do damage against a 6-foot-7 Knyba, ‘The Destroyer’ will be back rolling.
“That’s exactly why we’re facing Damian,” Ruiz said, “a big, strong guy and that’s who’s going to get me closer to get that world title fight.”
Can Andy Ruiz Jr. make another improbable title run?
Analysis: DAZN News’ Mark Lelinwalla
It’s interesting that the heavyweight division was referred to by Eddie Hearn as “more wide open, more exciting than it’s ever been.”
I wholeheartedly agree with the first component, leaning on last weekend’s upset with Filip Hrgovic handing Moses Itauma his first pro loss as proof.
Despite four different newly crowned champions in Murat Gassiev, Agit Kabayel, Daniel Dubois and Hrgovic, none have the dominance that undisputed ruler Oleksandr Usyk carried.
And that bodes well for Andy Ruiz Jr. in this comeback attempt and really any heavyweight. But what separates Ruiz is his hand speed, which is ultra quick for a man his size.
While conditioning was a problem in the past, including in his draw with Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller back in August 2024, Ruiz looking visibly slimmer now is a good start.
His trainer Manny Robles told me 255 to 257 pounds would be Ruiz’ sweet spot on the scale Thursday.
If he can defeat a tough Damian Knyba, whose only loss came against Kabayel in January, Ruiz will instantly put himself back into title contention with the skills, style and following to still make a run.
Watch Garcia vs. Benn on DAZN
Britian's Conor Benn looks to become a world champion for the first time against US superstar Ryan Garcia on Saturday, September 12.
Watch the fight exclusively in the UK & Ireland and other territories (check for availability) on DAZN PPV or included in our Ultimate Tier subscription.
