Shawn Porter gives honest verdict on Andy Ruiz defeat

On September 4 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Andy Ruiz lost his comeback fight against the 6 ft 7 Polish fighter Damian Knyba. After the defeat, Ruiz made it clear he wants to fight again, and former two-time welterweight world champion Shawn Porter gave his honest verdict on the fight when speaking to Fight Hype TV.

Andy Ruiz loses to Damian Knyba

Andy Ruiz (35-3-1, 22 KOs) was returning to action for the first time in two years, against Damian Knyba (18-1, 11 KOs).

The Polish fighter quickly got into his groove, utilising his 86-inch reach to control the distance with relative ease. Jab, jab, right hand was Knyba’s blueprint, and he stuck to the plan diligently. Finally, Ruiz tried to increase the pressure, but Knyba still looked untroubled.

The seventh round was a huge one for the Pole, scoring a big knockdown, with the referee seemingly on the verge of stopping the bout.

Ruiz showed his heart, as he fired back in the eighth, backing Knyba up with a right hook. He enjoyed success with the right hand to the body during the eighth and ninth rounds, before Knyba got back behind his jab and controlled the distance, allowing him to see the fight out comfortably. The judges’ scorecards read 117-110, and 114-113 x2, all in favour of Knyba.

After the fight, Ruiz made it clear retirement is not in his thoughts: “I’m not done, just because of this loss. I have still got it in me, and I want to fight again,” said Ruiz. 

Shawn Porter gives his verdict on Andy Ruiz vs Damian Knyba

Speaking to Fight Hype TV, Shawn Porter was asked about Andy Ruiz vs Damian Knyba:

“Honestly, he looked how he was supposed to look. What I mean by that is, two years out of the ring, and you’ve got a tall guy in front of you; you haven’t had to track anyone down, you haven’t had to make any mental adjustments, physical adjustments, anything like that at all. So the expectation of Andy tonight was more so built on everything that he’s been in the past.

“He was stronger than Knyba, but he just couldn’t catch up to Knyba. Truly not willing, more so than not able. I think he was not willing to do what it took to get to Knyba tonight. Knyba, he needs to get stronger. He needs to develop a better right hand. That moment that he had with Andy, where he ended up dropping Andy…you go the whole fight without throwing the right hand, and eventually he caught Andy slipping, but that doesn’t happen against any of the elite guys at heavyweight,” said Porter.

The Big Fight Weekend verdict

Looking at the inactivity of Ruiz, it’s difficult to be surprised that he lost yesterday. Teaming up with Manny Robles again, we felt Ruiz might roll back the years, but he just didn’t have the ability to breach the jab of the Polish fighter. It appears he wants to continue fighting, but it’s difficult to see where he goes from here. 

I believe a slight decrease in the quality of competition, have two more fights this year, gain some confidence before demanding the big fights in 2027. Ruiz looked a few steps behind where he was in his prime. Whether he can return to that quality remains to be seen, but Ruiz needs activity if he is to get back to anywhere near the level he’s previously operated at.

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Featured Image Credit:

Melina Pizano/Matchroom Boxing UK