Andy Ruiz Jr is finally set to make his long-awaited return to the ring later this year and the man in the opposite corner has now been named.
Although he came close to beating Joseph Parker for the WBO strap in 2016, Ruiz Jr will always be best known as the man who shocked the world in June 2019 and beat then unified champion Anthony Joshua in his US debut.
The fight at Madison Square Garden was hugely dramatic, with Joshua being put down several times before he was eventually stopped in the seventh round.
Six months later, he boxed much smarter and took a unanimous 12-round points win, and since then, Ruiz has been largely inactive with just three contests in six and a half years.
They have been points wins over Chris Arreola and Luis Ortiz, and a draw with Jarrell Miller in August 2024, which was the last time he was in the ring owing to a hand injury.
He is now looking to get his career back on track after signing with Matchroom Boxing and it has been officially confirmed that the 36-year-old Mexican-American is back in September against a Polish opponent, as he will take on Damian Knyba on September 4th in New Jersey.
Knyba is 30 years of age and has won 17 of his 18 fights. He challenged for the WBC interim title in January when he fought Agit Kabayel but was stopped in the third round following previous wins over the likes of Joey Dawejko and Richard Lartey since turning professional in June 2021.
