Damian Knyba
Knyba in 2022 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
Nickname | Polish Hussar |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Born | 25 January 1996 Bydgoszcz, Poland |
| Height | 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) |
| Weight | Heavyweight |
| Boxing career | |
| Reach | 86 in (218 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record[1] | |
| Total fights | 18 |
| Wins | 17 |
| Win by KO | 11 |
| Losses | 1 |
Damian Knyba (born 25 January 1996) is a Polish professional boxer currently signed with Top Rank.[2]
Amateur career
Knyba had an amateur record of 23 wins and 7 losses. He won the Polish Youth Championship in 2019 and the Polish Senior Championship in 2020.[3]
Professional career
Knyba made his professional boxing debut on 26 June 2021 in Człopa where he stopped Petr Frohlich in the second round.[4] On 10 December 2022, Knyba fought Puerto Rican boxer Emilio Salas at Madison Square Garden on the undercard of Teofimo Lopez vs Sandor Martin, winning by technical knockout in the second round.[5]
Knyba vs. Kabayel
On 4 November 2025, it was announced that Knyba would take on the undefeated Agit Kabayel for his WBC interim Heavyweight Championship on 10 January 2026 in Oberhausen, Germany.[6] Knyba suffered his first defeat by a controversial third-round TKO. The first round was very successful for Knyba, who scored several hard shots to Kabayel's face, opening a cut over the right eye. However, Kabayel retook control in the second round, upping the pace and landing his own power shots in return. By the third round, Knyba was still trying to match Kabayel's pace but continued to receive more and more punishment, eventually suffering several clean shots that prompted the referee to intervene. However, many observers, including Knyba, considered the stoppage premature, as Knyba was still fighting back and attempting to defend.[7][8] His entrance made headlines as he walked out dressed as a Polish hussar along with knights. He walked out to the Polish celebratory anthem, Rota, which is known to be an anti-German song written in protest of the German Empire's forced policies of Germanization of Poles in the earlier 20th century. Whilst walking out, Polish fans in attendance sang along.[9]
Professional boxing record
| 18 fights | 17 wins | 1 loss |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 11 | 1 |
| By decision | 6 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Loss | 17–1 | Agit Kabayel | TKO | 3 (12), 2:36 | 10 Jan 2026 | Rudolf Weber-Arena, Oberhausen, Germany | For WBC interim heavyweight title |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Joey Dawejko | TKO | 7 (8), 2:25 | 18 Oct 2025 | Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Marcin Siwy | RTD | 8 (10). 3:00 | 21 Jun 2025 | Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Andrzej Wawrzyk | TKO | 3 (10), 2:21 | 1 Feb 2025 | Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Richard Lartey | KO | 3 (8), 2:10 | 2 Nov 2024 | Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Michael Polite Coffee | UD | 8 | 9 Dec 2023 | Charles F. Dodge City Center, Pembroke Pines, Florida, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Helaman Olguin | UD | 8 | 10 Jun 2023 | Madison Square Garden Theater, New York City, New York | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Curtis Harper | TKO | 8 (8), 2:38 | 8 Apr 2023 | Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey. U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Emilio Salas | TKO | 2 (6), 1:50 | 10 Dec 2022 | Madison Square Garden Theater, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko | UD | 8 | 8 Oct 2022 | Hala MOSiR ul. Klodnicka 85, Ruda Śląska, Poland | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Santander Silgado Gelez | TKO | 1 (6), 2:49 | 13 Aug 2022 | Ranson Civic Center, Ranson, West Virginia, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Terrell Jamal Woods | UD | 6 | 21 May 2022 | Amazura Concert Hall, Queens, New York, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Knife Didier | KO | 1 (8), 2:16 | 4 Mar 2022 | Hala widowiskowo-sportowa, Szczytno, Poland | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Aazddin Aajour | KO | 1 (6), 2:43 | 7 Jan 2022 | Hala Sportowa, Zawonia, Poland | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Yury Bykhautsou | UD | 6 | 23 Oct 2021 | Nosalowy Dwór, Zakopane, Poland | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Giorgi Tamazashvili | KO | 1 (4), 2:25 | 28 Aug 2021 | Amfiteatr nad Jeziorem Czos, Mrągowo, Poland | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Igor Pylypenko | UD | 4 | 17 Jul 2021 | Arena Suwałki, Suwałki, Poland | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Petr Frohlich | TKO | 2 (4), 2:33 | 26 Jun 2021 | Gospoda, plac Zwyciestwa Wojska Polskiego 13, Człopa, Poland |
References
- ^ "Boxing record for Damian Knyba". BoxRec.
- ^ "Polish Power: Unbeaten Heavyweight Prospect Damian Knyba Inks Multi-Year Promotional Contract with Top Rank". toprank.com.
- ^ "Heavyweight Boxer Damian "Hussar" Knyba meets with Pulaski Association members". pulaskiassociation.com.
- ^ "HEAVYWEIGHT PROSPECT DAMIAN KNYBA SIGNS DEAL WITH TOP RANK". ringtv.com.
- ^ "Lopez vs. Martin". tapology.com.
- ^ "Agit Kabayel return set for January in Germany". Ring Magazine. 4 November 2025.
- ^ "Nie tak to miało wyglądać. Kontrowerysjne zakończenie. Wielka szansa Polaka uciekła". Interia Sport (in Polish). 10 January 2026.
- ^ "Agit Kabayel stops Damian Knyba early for happy Germany homecoming". Ring Magazine. 10 January 2026.
- ^ Artur Babicz (11 January 2026). "Szedł w otoczeniu polskich rycerzy, a z głośników leciała "Rota"". WP Sportowe Fakty (in Polish). Retrieved 11 January 2026.