Andy Ruiz Jr. Drops 20 Pounds Ahead of Knyba Fight

Andy Ruiz Jr. weighed in at 254.3 pounds for his comeback fight against Damian Knyba, his lightest number on a scale in more than seven years, a sign he treated this camp differently than the layoffs and letdowns that preceded it.

Ruiz tipped the scales at 254.3 for Friday night's main event at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, while Knyba came in at 255.5. It marks Ruiz's lowest weight since he came in at 252 pounds for a 2018 decision win over Kevin Johnson, back when he was 28 and still building toward the Anthony Joshua upset that made him a heavyweight champion. He has not fought in 25 months.

What Does Ruiz's Weight Cut Mean for This Fight?

The number itself represents a real drop. Ruiz weighed 274.4 pounds for his 2023 draw with Jarrell Miller, meaning he shed just over 20 pounds for Knyba. He was 268 for the first Joshua fight, ballooned to 283 for the rematch loss, and sat at 268.8 against Luis Ortiz in 2022. Getting down to 254.3 at age 36, after two years away from the ring, suggests a training camp built around discipline rather than just showing up.

That does not automatically translate to a better fighter. Ruiz built his career absorbing heavyweight punishment with a thicker frame, and cutting weight quickly can strip away padding around the upper body and neck rather than just fat. Facing a 6-foot-7 opponent in Knyba who throws from a steep downward angle, that matters. There's also the matter of Ruiz's right hand, which he fractured against Miller, an injury that limited his output over the second half of that fight. Being lighter means little if he still can't fire his combinations at full speed.

Can Ruiz Exploit Knyba's Style?

Damian Knyba's tendency to fight tall without much lateral movement plays into exactly the kind of fight Ruiz needs. Knyba, who enters at 17-1 with 11 knockouts, does not move his feet well for a man his size, and a quicker, lighter Ruiz should be able to work around his long guard, land overhand rights, and dig to the body on the inside. The catch is what happens when Knyba grabs him. Extended clinching from a much bigger man could sap Ruiz's legs and shut down the inside exchanges that make him dangerous in the first place.

Weight loss also doesn't restore timing. Ruiz's best work has always come from split-second reflexes at close range, slipping a shot and countering before an opponent resets. That version of him hasn't shown up consistently since he beat Joshua in 2019, and neither dieting nor roadwork guarantees it returns after this much time off.

Betting Angle

Books have installed Ruiz (35-2-1, 22 KOs) as the favorite over Knyba given his resume and experience at this level, but the market price only tells part of the story here. A dominant, high-energy version of Ruiz makes him a live finishing threat against a taller, less mobile opponent. A version still shaking off 25 months of rust and working around a surgically repaired hand is a much shakier bet, particularly if the fight drags into the championship rounds. Bettors leaning toward Ruiz by knockout are betting that the scale number reflects genuine restoration, not just a number.

Ruiz doesn't have the luxury of a cautious style points win here. He was brought in to relaunch as a threat at heavyweight, and a flat or exhausting performance against Knyba would hurt his standing as a future opponent for the division's top names far more than the loss itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much weight did Andy Ruiz Jr. lose for the Damian Knyba fight?

Andy Ruiz Jr. weighed 254.3 pounds for his fight against Damian Knyba, down more than 20 pounds from the 274.4 he weighed for his 2023 draw with Jarrell Miller.

Where is Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Damian Knyba taking place?

The Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Damian Knyba heavyweight bout headlines a Matchroom Boxing card at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

How long had Andy Ruiz Jr. been out of the ring before facing Knyba?

Andy Ruiz Jr. had not fought in 25 months before returning to face Damian Knyba, his longest layoff since becoming a two-time heavyweight titleholder.