2<\/p>\n Ruiz Jr hasn’t fought since a majority draw with Jarrell Miller in August 2024Credit: Mark Robinson\/Matchroom<\/p>\n On Friday night, Ruiz Jr faces the 6’7″ sparring partner of Anthony Joshua<\/a> at Newark’s Prudential Center.<\/p>\n It will be the first time the former unified heavyweight champion has stepped through the ropes since a majority draw with Jarrell Miller<\/a> in August 2024, when he weighed 274.5lbs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ruiz Jr had previously tipped the scales at 268.8lbs and 256lbs for victories over Luis Ortiz and Chris Arreola, respectively.<\/p>\n Prior to those bouts, ‘The Destroyer’ was 283.5lbs for his rematch loss to Joshua<\/a>, having weighed 268lbs for their famous first fight in June 2019, when he shocked the world to become WBA ‘super’, IBF, and WBO\u00a0world champion.<\/p>\n READ MORE BOXING NEWS<\/p>\n After reuniting with longtime coach Manny Robles last year<\/a>, Ruiz Jr revealed this week that he had dropped a whopping 43lbs heading into his fight against Knyba after ballooning to over 300lbs.<\/p>\n And the Mexican-American hit the scales properly on Thursday, coming in at 254.3lbs.<\/p>\n His opponent, Knyba, who unsurprisingly towered over Ruiz Jr when the pair came face-to-face, weighed in at 255.5lbs.<\/p>\n It is the lightest Ruiz Jr has been since defeating Kevin Johnson in July 2018, when he weighed 252lbs.<\/p>\n His new promoter, Eddie Hearn<\/a>, briefly joined the DAZN broadcast for the live weigh-in show to discuss the return of the man he thinks can ‘shake up the heavyweight division.’<\/p>\n “Let\u2019s be honest, there\u2019s no point hanging around,” Hearn said in response to those questioning throwing Ruiz Jr straight in with the threat that is Knyba.<\/p>\n Ruiz vs Knyba<\/p>\n Official weights<\/p>\n Hearn added that Ruiz Jr is ‘entitled to take an easier opponent’ due to his accolades as a heavyweight boxer, but ‘you either still have it or you don’t.’<\/p>\n “We\u2019re going to find out whether he still has it or not,” the Matchroom Boxing promoter said.<\/p>\n “This is the perfect guy to show what Andy Ruiz still has left.”<\/p>\n Speaking to talkSPORT in July, Ruiz Jr explained how his reunion with trainer Robles, who inspired his upset over Joshua in 2019, acted as a major factor in his decision to return to boxing<\/a>.<\/p>\n “My whole team that made me a champion, they showed me the hard work.<\/p>\n “We split apart and I started training myself and started trying to take an easy route.<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Ruiz Jr plans to become a two-time world heavyweight championCredit: Getty<\/p>\n “But now we are back together \u2014 the team is stronger than ever. We are clicking and bonding and the hard work is being done.<\/p>\n “That is arguably the biggest reason I came back and why things will be different because of the training.”<\/p>\n Read More on talkSPORT<\/p>\n Ruiz Jr plans to become a two-time heavyweight world champion and specifically highlighted his desire to claim the WBC and Ring Magazine belts.<\/p>\n Watch Boxing on DAZN<\/p>\n *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue<\/p>\n Sign up to DAZN<\/a> to access the definitive subscription for boxing fans.<\/p>\n Upgrade to DAZN Ultimate<\/a> from just \u00a324.99\/month, guaranteeing access to 185+ fights annually, a minimum of 12 pay-per-views at no extra cost, as well as every Lega Serie A match and other elite football access.<\/p>\n Alternatively, DAZN Standard<\/a> is just \u00a315.99\/month, with the caveat you will have to pay for pay-per-view events.<\/p>\n![\"Andy](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/081A4891.jpg\")
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