Knyba now wants another shot at Agit Kabayel, who beat him in January and has since become WBC heavyweight champion. Polish heavyweight boxer Damian Knyba defeated former unified world champion Andy Ruiz Jr by a unanimous decision in New Jersey on Friday, securing the biggest win of his professional career. The judges scored the 12-round fight 117-110, 114-113 and 114-113 for Knyba, who sent Ruiz to the canvas with a combination late in the seventh round. The victory improved the 30-year-old Pole’s record to 18 wins and one defeat. “This is an amazing feeling,” Knyba said after the fight, adding: “I’m ready to fight anyone.” Ruiz became world heavyweight champion in 2019 after a shock victory over Anthony Joshua, but lost the titles back to the Briton six months later. Knyba wants Kabayel again Knyba said he now wants a rematch with Germany’s Agit Kabayel, who stopped him in the third round of their fight for the interim WBC heavyweight title in January. “Nobody believed in me, and I showed everyone I could do it,” Knyba said after beating Ruiz. Kabayel was promoted to full WBC heavyweight champion in June after Oleksandr Usyk gave up the belt.
Damian Knyba lands a punch on Andy Ruiz Jr during their heavyweight bout in Newark. Photo: Ed Mulholland/Getty Images
