Story perspectives

Ruiz Targets Usyk Title After Sept. 4 Knyba Fight

7/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

Andy Ruiz Jr. will fight Damian Knyba on Sept. 4 at the Prudential Center in Newark.
Ruiz holds a 35-2-1 record with 22 knockouts.
Knyba is 17-1 with 11 knockouts, 6-foot-7, and lost to Agit Kabayel by knockout.
The fight will air co-exclusively on TNT, truTV and DAZN in the U.S.
Ruiz says a victory will launch a campaign to challenge Oleksandr Usyk’s belts and pursue a title next year.

History

Historical Context

On December 7 2019, Andy Ruiz Jr. shocked the boxing world by defeating Anthony Joshua for the WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight titles. The bout, promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, generated $55 million in global pay-per-view revenue and earned Ruiz a $3 million purse. Similarly, Ruiz’s upcoming September 4 clash with 6-foot-7 Damian Knyba at Newark’s Prudential Center aims to replicate that upset pathway toward a title shot against Oleksandr Usyk. If Ruiz repeats his 2019 triumph, the heavyweight division could see a new champion emerging from the United States, reshaping future negotiations for unification bouts.

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Story summary

Andy Ruiz Jr. will fight Damian Knyba on Sept. 4 at the Prudential Center in Newark.
Ruiz holds a 35-2-1 record with 22 knockouts.
Knyba is 17-1 with 11 knockouts, 6-foot-7, and lost to Agit Kabayel by knockout.
The fight will air co-exclusively on TNT, truTV and DAZN in the U.S.
Ruiz says a victory will launch a campaign to challenge Oleksandr Usyk’s belts and pursue a title next year.

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