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Andy Ruiz Jr.’s lack of commitment to boxing finally caught up with him as Damian Knyba handed the former unified heavyweight champion a career-ending defeat in Newark. This was not a loss to one of the heavyweight division’s elite. Knyba entered the fight having already been battered and stopped by Agit Kabayel earlier this year, making what unfolded in Newark even more damaging for Ruiz. World Boxing News has continually focused on Ruiz not being fully committed to the sport since his incredible rise to the top of the heavyweight division. His extracurricular activities, long periods of inactivity and lack of focus have followed him since he shocked Anthony Joshua in 2019. On Friday night, it finally caught up with him. Ruiz had finally lost over 40 pounds, reunited with Manny Robles and spoken openly about becoming heavyweight champion again. Before the fight, Ruiz admitted his own lack of discipline had cost him everything. “I had all the belts and I lost them all by not being disciplined. Now that I’m disciplined, I’m dedicated and I’m hungry, I want those belts back.” But getting himself back into shape could not give Ruiz back the years he had already lost. Ruiz Takes Heavy Punishment Knyba used his significant height and reach advantages as Ruiz struggled to consistently close the distance. In the seventh round, Knyba badly hurt Ruiz and sent him crashing to the canvas. The fight could easily have been over then. Ruiz showed courage and powers of recovery, alongside a generous referee, to survive the remaining rounds, but the damage had already been done. Knyba was awarded a unanimous decision by scores of 117-110 and 114-113 twice, handing Ruiz the third defeat of his professional career. The result was a far cry from the Ruiz who exploded onto the world stage against Joshua. Ruiz dropped Joshua four times at Madison Square Garden and ripped away the unified heavyweight championship in one of boxing’s great upsets. What followed was mishandled by the only man who can truly take accountability for it: Andy Ruiz Jr. Ruiz Has Himself to Blame Friday night’s comeback was supposed to put Ruiz back on the road to a trilogy with AJ. Ruiz was slimmer, Robles was back in his corner and the former champion was talking about discipline and becoming champion again. But heavyweight boxing does not wait for anybody. After the fight, Ruiz immediately called for a rematch, pointing to Knyba’s holding and his own lengthy absence while insisting he still has more to give. Maybe Ruiz will fight again. At 36, nobody can definitively tell him that he cannot. But returning to the ring and climbing back to the top of the heavyweight division are two completely different things. Ruiz had everything most fighters spend their careers chasing. What happened afterward cannot be blamed on promoters, trainers or a lack of opportunity. He had control of his own career and blew it. In a heavyweight world that moves on quickly, once you have half a foot out the door for long enough, eventually somebody kicks the other half through it. About the Author Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.