Andy Ruiz Jr. weighs 254.3 pounds for comeback against Knyba

Andy Ruiz Jr. will enter his comeback fight at 254.3 pounds, 20.1 pounds lighter than he was for his draw with Jarrell Miller two years ago. Damian Knyba weighed 255.5 pounds for Friday night’s heavyweight main event, with the official figures released on Thursday.

The weigh-in marks Ruiz’s lightest since he came in at 252 pounds for his points win over Kevin Johnson in July 2018. He was 28 at the time and was still building towards his biggest career achievement. Ruiz is now 36 and has spent 25 months away from competition.

His weight has changed sharply during that period of his career. Ruiz weighed 268 pounds when he stopped Anthony Joshua, then rose to 283 pounds for their rematch. He later registered 268.8 pounds against Luis Ortiz in 2022 before reaching 274.4 pounds for the meeting with Miller.

The reduction suggests a serious effort to improve his condition, but it does not by itself confirm that Ruiz’s speed and combination punching have returned. His style depends on timing, close-range reactions and the ability to fire several punches before an opponent can reset. Those qualities have not appeared consistently since his first fight with Joshua.

Ruiz will also need his right hand to hold up after he fractured it against Miller. He said the injury stopped him from throwing normally during the second half of that contest. Knyba, listed as 6 feet 7 inches, can create problems with his height and downward punching angles, although the Polish heavyweight is also known for standing tall and lacking top-level lateral movement.

The physical changes therefore give Ruiz a more encouraging starting point, while leaving the main question to be answered in the ring. He must show that the weight loss has not come at the expense of durability, timing or his inside work. At 36, another poor showing would further weaken his position as a potential opponent for the leading heavyweights.