Dave Allen Wants Andy Ruiz Jr Fight After Knyba Loss

The Setup Andy Ruiz Jr's comeback didn't go to plan. After two years out of the ring, the former unified heavyweight champion stepped in against Damian Knyba earlier this month and came out on the wrong end of a points decision, getting dropped hard in round seven along the way. Not the redemption story he was chasing, but it hasn't scared off potential suitors.

Enter Dave Allen British heavyweight Dave Allen, never one to shy away from a colorful quote, has publicly thrown his hat in the ring for a Ruiz fight. Allen is targeting a December return first, but he's already eyeing Ruiz as a potential opponent for what he's calling his 40th and final professional fight — essentially a farewell run capped off against a name with real pedigree.

Allen's pitch for himself is refreshingly honest: "I'm not the best fighter in the world but I'm a big, fat hard b**tard. Well-skilled, can take people rounds and, if I can get the Ruiz fight, of course I'd do it. I'd f**king love that." He even admits he might not fully deserve the fight on résumé alone, but that won't stop him from chasing it.

Why Ruiz Is Still a Big Name Despite the recent skid, Ruiz remains one of the more recognizable names in the division. He's the man who shocked the world by knocking out Anthony Joshua in 2019, only to lose the rematch and his titles months later. Since then, his career has been defined by long layoffs and inconsistent form — including a controversial draw with Jarrell Miller before this latest defeat to Knyba.

That inactivity is exactly why Ruiz is drawing offers like Allen's. He's a heavyweight who still moves the needle commercially, even when he's not performing at his peak. For a fighter like Allen, closing out a career against someone with Ruiz's name value is a big ask, but it's understandable why he'd chase it.

What Happens Next Nothing is signed. Allen has a December fight to get through first, and Ruiz's team will likely weigh multiple options as he tries to rebuild momentum after back-to-back underwhelming results. But the interest is real, and in a heavyweight division always hungry for storylines, a Ruiz-Allen fight would be an easy sell even if neither man is currently a title threat.

For fans, this is a reminder that heavyweight boxing thrives on names and narratives just as much as rankings. Ruiz vs. Allen wouldn't be a title eliminator, but it would be entertaining — and that's often enough to get a fight made.