Damian Knyba defeated former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. by unanimous decision after controlling most of the fight with his jab, length and distance management.
The official scorecards were 117–110, 114–113 and 114–113 for Knyba. The S³ scorecard also read 117–110, matching one official judge exactly.
S³ Fight Notes
Round 1: Knyba, 10–9
Knyba stayed light on his feet and controlled the opening round behind his jab. Ruiz remained in a high guard, looking for one big punch that never came.
Round 2: Knyba, 10–9
Ruiz tried to close the distance and attack the body, but Knyba’s length, range and distance control made it difficult for him to land effectively.
Round 3: Knyba, 10–9
Knyba’s jab remained the most effective weapon in the fight. Ruiz offered very little offensively.
Round 4: Knyba, 10–9
Knyba continued controlling the action with his jab, which was beginning to bruise Ruiz’s face.
Round 5: Ruiz, 10–9
Ruiz’s pressure finally became effective and forced Knyba to retreat. Ruiz also landed the most significant punch of the round with a hard body shot.
Round 6: Knyba, 10–9
Ruiz’s aggressive approach worked early, but Knyba regained control with his jab and superior distance management to narrowly take the round.
Round 7: Knyba, 10–8
A hard right hand badly hurt Ruiz late in the round. Knyba followed with a flurry that sent Ruiz to the canvas. Ruiz beat the count but was saved by the bell.
Round 8: Ruiz, 10–9
Knyba landed several jabs and right hands, but Ruiz stunned him with a right hand of his own. Ruiz then hurt Knyba with a body shot late in the round.
Round 9: Ruiz, 10–9
Ruiz applied steady pressure and landed effective chopping right hands along with solid shots to the body.
Round 10: Knyba, 10–9
The round started competitively, but Knyba returned to his jab and gradually pulled away by controlling the distance.
Round 11: Knyba, 10–9
Knyba controlled the round with his jab while occasionally mixing in the right hand. Ruiz struggled to generate consistent offense.
Round 12: Knyba, 10–9
Ruiz started aggressively and landed a hook and right hand. Knyba responded by returning to his jab and controlling the second half of the final round.
S³ Final Scorecard
Knyba 117–110 Ruiz
Knyba: Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11 and 12
Ruiz: Rounds 5, 8 and 9
Knockdown: Knyba dropped Ruiz in Round 7
S³/PR Performance Rating
| Category | Rating | Evaluation |
|---|---|---|
| Quality of Opposition | 15/30 | Ruiz is no longer a top-level heavyweight. |
| Fight Performance | 20/30 | Knyba earned a solid victory, but it came against an opponent well past his prime. |
| Championship Stakes | 12/20 | The victory moves Knyba closer to challenging for a heavyweight championship. |
| Ring IQ & Execution | 12/20 | Knyba followed his game plan and controlled the fight, but it was not an exceptional performance. |
| S³/PR Rating | 59/100 | Solid victory |
Knyba deserved the victory, but the two 114–113 scorecards were far too close. S³ saw a clear nine-round-to-three win, strengthened by Knyba’s seventh-round knockdown. Still, the performance must be judged in context: Ruiz looked like a fighter whose days as a legitimate heavyweight contender may be over.
