At one point, Andy Ruiz Jr. was on top of the world. After two years away from the ring, he looks to return to his former glory. First up is a fight against Damian Knyba Friday night in New Jersey.
Ruiz is best known for beating Anthony Joshua in one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight history in 2019 to become the unified heavyweight champion. This will be his fourth fight since, going 2-1-1 in that span.
Knyba is coming off a loss against Agit Kabayel in January for interim heavyweight gold.
Also on the card, Vito Mielnicki Jr. and Alan Chaves attempt to become top contenders, while Austin Williams aims to return to title contention.
The Sporting News has you covered with the latest betting odds, expert picks and predictions for the fights on Friday, from Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Damian Knyba to Vito Mielnicki Jr. vs. Austin Williams. Plus, new users can bet $5 on the fights and get $200 in Bonus Bets instantly at DraftKings Sportsbook.
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How to bet on Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Damian Knyba
Betting on boxing is quite simple. First you need to choose a sportsbook to bet with. DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, bet365, theScore Bet, BetRivers and Fanatics all offer odds on the entire Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Damian Knyba fight card.
1. Choose your sportsbook and claim your welcome bonus
Once you choose your sportsbook, you can claim a welcome bonus. First, you must sign up and enter all of your verification information such as your name, address, social security number and other details. Once your account is confirmed you can claim a welcome bonus from one of these sportsbooks below.
2. Learn the main boxing bet types
There are a variety of ways to bet on boxing, including several popular bet types. Moneylines allow users to pick an outright winner and profit if their fighter comes out victorious. Total round betting provides betters with the opportunity to call their own shot on how many rounds a fight will last. Prop betting has all the niche markets that a boxing bettor could ask for. To learn more about the variety of bet types, check out our full guide below.
3. Research
Successful boxing betting requires analyzing fighter statistics like strike percentage, recent form, style matchups and training camps to identify value in odds. Key factors include researching a fighter’s opponent quality, whether or not ring rust (long layoffs) plays a factor and overinflated lines.
4. Place your bet
Pick the fighter that you like to win or the method of victory you like that fighter to win by, and enjoy the fights.
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Where to bet on Andy Ruiz Jr. fight
If you’re looking to get in on the betting action for the fights but are new to some of the best sportsbooks in your area, take advantage of their new-user promos and welcome bonuses.
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Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Damian Knyba card odds and best bets
Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Damian Knyba (Heavyweight)
| Fighter | Total rounds | Moneyline |
| Andy Ruiz Jr. | O 10.5 (-135) | -250 |
| Damian Knyba | U 10.5 (+170) | +190 |
Ruiz vs. Knyba prediction and best bet
Per DraftKings Sportsbook, Andy Ruiz Jr. is the -250 favorite, while Damian Knyba is the +190 underdog.
It’s been a long time since Ruiz stepped inside a boxing ring. When he shocked the world against Anthony Joshua, Ruiz landed 56 strikes, with 17 in the third round and 12 in the sixth. At his best, he’s a sharp striker.
Against Chris Arreola, Ruiz landed single-digit shots three times and landed above 15 punches four times. He landed 161 blows (a 25.7% connect mark). Against Luis Ortiz, Ruiz landed 76 of 287 strikes (28.5%). He landed only one strike in round 10. Against Jarrell Miller, Ruiz landed 113 of 355 strikes (31.8%), with back-to-back rounds with 11 strikes. He landed 30 jabs.
An issue for Ruiz is consistency. He’s gone through multiple trainers since that first Joshua fight. Ruiz has also slimmed down, losing over 40 pounds. Will his power and patience still be there after all these years?
Knyba got taken out in what could be thought of as a premature stoppage against Agit Kabayel. However, after starting well with his jabs, Knyba had no answer for Kabayel’s head and body shots. Ruiz will be the latest step-up in competition for the Polish fighter.
It’s been two years since Ruiz entered the ring. Will ring rust play a factor? He wants to become a champion again, but is his heart in it? Knyba, with over a five-inch height advantage, is known for frustrating fighters and not standing where his opponents want them to. Ruiz will need to be patient and listen to his corner.
Ruiz’s game plan should be to shorten the distance against the taller figure. If he avoids the jab, he can slip in and unleash flurries. With his recent weight loss, Ruiz has found excellent conditioning. It may not be pretty, but he should have another big moment in the ring in front of a New York-New Jersey audience.
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Vito Mielnicki Jr. vs. Austin Williams (Middleweight)
| Fighter | Total rounds | Moneyline |
| Vito Mielnicki Jr. | O 8.5 (-295) | +100 |
| Austin Williams | U 8.5 (+210) | -125 |
Mielnicki vs. Williams prediction and best bet
Per DraftKings Sportsbook, Austin Williams is the -125 favorite, while Vito Mielnicki Jr. is the +100 underdog.
Mielnicki is considered a top prospect, but leaves much to be desired. The 24-year-old has beaten Kamil Gardzielik, Samuel Nmomah, and Omar Huerta in his last three fights, all three fighters with a combined record of 56-0 before facing Mielnicki. While none are championship-level fighters, they were solid tests for him.
One of his most impressive performances came against Conor Coyle, where he landed 148 of 546 shots (27.1%), landing 20 strikes in round 10 and 62 overall jabs.
Williams has faced world-level competition, taking on Steve Rolls, Hamzah Sheeraz, and Carles Adames. Facing Adames for middleweight gold, Williams was outlanded in power shots, 176-89. Sheeraz outlanded him 70-66. Still, Williams is a formidable opponent, looking to compete for gold again.
Williams is the right fight for Mielnicki, from New Jersey, to prove his value: a contender who, on paper, won’t take Mielnicki off his feet. While he may be the favorite, Williams may try to do too much, and Mielnicki can take advantage. Mielnicki could become a contender in front of family and friends.
Alan Chaves vs. Eridson Garcia (Lightweight)
| Fighter | Total rounds | Moneyline |
| Alan Chaves | O 6.5 (-135) | -700 |
| Eridson Garcia | U 6.5 (+100) | +450 |
Chaves vs. Garcia prediction and best bet
Per DraftKings Sportsbook, Alan Chaves is the -700 favorite, while Eridson Garcia is the +450 underdog.
In his U.S. debut, Chaves delivered a devastating round-three knockout of Miguel Madueno, his fifth straight stoppage win. The Argentinian has 19 wins via the power punch. There were attempts at booking others to fight him, but they never worked out. Is it because he’s slowly becoming a boogeyman at lightweight?
Garcia is coming off a loss against Andres Cortes, ending a streak that saw him beat Brian Taga and Taiga Imanaga. With 14 wins via knockout, Garcia is a formidable foe.
Chaves is ranked within the top of the rankings across all major sanctioning bodies. Would he get a title shot with a win? One thing is for sure: Regardless of how his last fight went, Garcia is a credible opponent to get eyes on Chaves, and Chaves should walk out of the ring with another knockout win.
Zaquin Moses vs. Angel Antonio Contreras (Super Featherweight)
| Fighter | Total rounds | Moneyline |
| Zaquin Moses | TBA | -4000 |
| Angel Antonio Contreras | TBA | +1200 |
Moses vs. Contreras prediction and best bet
Per DraftKings Sportsbook, Zaquin Moses is the -4000 favorite, while Angel Antonio Contreras is the +1200 underdog.
It will be Moses’ third fight of 2026. The 21-year-old has won three contests via knockout. Contreras has won 12 fights via knockout. He’s on a two-fight win streak, beating fighters close to .500 during that span.
Contreras is the veteran, but all eyes are on Moses, who appears to have all the skills to pay the bills. He should produce another shutout performance, continuing his growth.
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Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Damian Knyba full card
- Andy Ruiz Jr. (-250) vs. Damian Knyba (+190); Heavyweights
- Vito Mielnicki Jr. (+100) vs. Austin Williams (-125); Middleweights
- Alan Chaves (-700) vs. Eridson Garcia (+450); Lightweights
- Zaquin Moses (-4000) vs Angel Antonio Contreras (+1200); Super Featherweights
- Dennis Thompson (-1600) vs. Jose Casillas (+800); Super Bantamweights
- Kahshad Elliott (-2000) vs. Jean Pierre Valencia (+900); Middleweights
- Brooke Mullen (-2500) vs. Bria Miller (+1000); Welterweights
- Jordan Simpson (-3500) vs. Michael McDonald (+1100); Middleweights
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