Andy Ruiz Jr’s return to the ring ended in disaster as he fell to a lopsided defeat at the hands of Damian Knyba in Newark on Friday night.The former unified heavyweight champion was stepping back between the ropes for the first time in a little over two years and there were signs of ring rust as he was made to miss and pay by a disciplined Knyba.Ruiz Jr was dropped heavily in round seven by KnybaMatchroom BoxingRuiz Jr suffered a heavy knockdown in round seven, and was well beaten by his towering 6ft 7in foe, who puts his 86in reach to good use as he cruised to a unanimous decision win behind the jab.You would be hard pressed to give Ruiz Jr more than three rounds, yet two of the judges submitted alarmingly narrow 114-113 scorecards in Knyba’s favour, while the other had it 117-110 for the big Pole. In the immediate aftermath, the DAZN panel called for Ruiz Jr to retire, but the 36-year-old insisted he will fight on.Andy Ruiz Jr defies retirement calls “He was holding really tight and I couldn’t let me hands ago,” said Ruiz Jr. “I want to run it back. He was a great opponent, I didn’t want an easy fight and that’s why I chose Damian. “I’m not done, just because of this loss. I have still got it in me and I want to fight again.” This is a developing story and is being updated.For the latest updates, breaking news alerts, and comprehensive analysis, refresh this page or follow our real-time news coverage by watching and listening to talkSPORT live.For broader context, explore related coverage on our homepage for the top trending stories. For the latest talkSPORT videos, download the app.talkSPORT cares about getting it right, not just getting it first and because this is a developing situation, details will change. We will be updating this page constantly with verified info, expert takes, and official statements.Stay tuned for further developments as this story continues to break. Watch Boxing on DAZN*If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenueSign up to DAZN to access the definitive subscription for boxing fans.Upgrade to DAZN Ultimate from just £24.99/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.Alternatively, DAZN Standard is just £15.99/month, with the caveat you will have to pay for pay-per-view events.Click here to sign up.