Andy Ruiz Loss Draws 695K Peak Audience

Andy Ruiz Jr. looked finished as a serious heavyweight contender last Friday, but viewers still wanted to see him. His fight with Damian Knyba averaged 678,000 viewers and peaked at 695,000 on TNT.

The figures were published by EverythingBoxing’s Darshan Desai. Vito Mielnicki Jr.’s decision over Austin Williams averaged 616,000 viewers in the co-main event, showing that the ratings climbed as Ruiz’s ring return approached.

Ruiz vs. Knyba also beat the 638,000 average generated by Abdullah Mason and Albert Bell on TNT’s July 4 debut. That represents an increase of roughly 6.3%, despite the Ruiz card airing on a Friday rather than the Saturday slot used for the previous two events.

That comparison says plenty about the commercial power of heavyweight name recognition. Mason may be one of boxing’s most talented young fighters, but casual fans already know Ruiz as the man who shocked Anthony Joshua in 2019. A familiar former heavyweight champion can still attract more interest than a gifted lightweight prospect.

Unfortunately for Ruiz, the expanded crowd watched Knyba control him with a jab and long right hands. The Polish heavyweight dropped Ruiz in the seventh round and won by scores of 117-110 and 114-113 twice. The two narrow cards gave a misleading picture of a fight Knyba dictated comfortably.

Beating Ruiz does not guarantee that Knyba inherits his following. People tuned in because they recognized the former champion, not because they had already invested in his opponent. Knyba also won through patient outside boxing rather than delivering the kind of dramatic knockout that instantly sells another television date.

Matchroom now has the task of turning Knyba’s best win into something larger. Pairing him with another recognizable heavyweight would reveal how much drawing power belongs to Knyba and how much came solely from Ruiz.

The greater concern is Ruiz’s next appearance. Long inactivity did not erase the public’s memory of the Joshua upset, but Friday gave nearly 700,000 fans a clear look at how much speed and mobility he has lost.

Curiosity carried this comeback. It may not do so again. Ruiz brought the ratings, while Knyba left Newark with the career benefit.