Twelve rounds later, those plans were in serious trouble.

Ruiz, the former unified world champion, ended a two-year inactive spell but lost a unanimous decision to heavy underdog Damian Knyba at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The official scores were 117-110 and 114-113 twice. Those final two scorecards made the fight appear considerably closer than it actually was.

Knyba used his enormous advantages in height and reach to control Ruiz for long stretches, consistently finding him with the jab and preventing "The Destroyer" from getting close enough to unload his combinations.

Then came the seventh round.

Knyba badly hurt Ruiz and eventually sent him to the canvas after a sustained attack. Ruiz survived and responded with some of his best work in the following round, but the damage had already been done. Despite being praised for his powers of recovery, Ruiz lost the momentum surrounding his latest comeback with his third career defeat.

Before Friday, there was plenty of optimism. Ruiz reunited with Manny Robles, the trainer who guided him to his historic upset of Anthony Joshua in June 2019. He signed a multi-fight promotional agreement with Matchroom Boxing and weighed 254.3 pounds, his lowest weight in eight years.

The objective wasn't simply to return. Ruiz wanted another world title. Now he has to decide how realistic that actually is, turning 37 later this week and without several years to slowly rebuild once more.

He also doesn't appear ready to walk away. The former champion spoke post-fight of his belief there's still something left and wants activity. If that's the decision he sticks with, several directions can be pursued.

There is already one recognizable heavyweight who wants Ruiz: Whyte. He has told Eddie Hearn that Ruiz is among the opponents he wants for his own comeback and the timing might be perfect for both.

For years, Ruiz and Whyte have discussed fighting one another without ever sharing the ring. There were serious discussions in 2020, when Hearn offered Ruiz a fight with the longtime contender.

Six years later, the matchup probably makes more sense than ever. Whyte is attempting a comeback of his own after a devastating first-round knockout loss to Moses Itauma last year.

At 38, the former WBC interim champion finds himself in a similar position to Ruiz. Neither man can afford many more setbacks, though both remain recognizable names in a heavyweight division where name value can quickly create opportunities.

For Ruiz, Whyte would provide exactly the type of fight he needs.

He's a legitimate opponent with a résumé including victories over Joseph Parker, Derek Chisora and Alexander Povetkin, but isn't a young heavyweight contender looking to use Ruiz as a steppingstone.

There is also Hearn, who promotes Ruiz and has maintained a longstanding relationship with Whyte, removing one of the biggest obstacles preventing fights from being made. Ruiz says he wants to continue, and Whyte says the same thing. Maybe it's finally time they fight each other.

If Whyte doesn't happen, there is another obvious option.

He fought Jarrell Miller to a majority draw in August 2024, and Ruiz has never been satisfied with the result.

Before facing Knyba, Ruiz openly discussed his desire for a "redemption fight" with Miller. That option shouldn't disappear because of his latest performance. In fact, it probably makes more sense now.

There is already history between them. Their first fight was competitive, the result was inconclusive and Ruiz has unfinished business. If Ruiz can't beat Miller in a rematch, then any discussion about another championship run becomes extremely difficult to justify. If he wins convincingly, there is something to build on.

Ruiz also wants another crack at Knyba and it's understandable.

Two judges had the fight 114-113, meaning the seventh-round knockdown ultimately separated them on those scorecards. Ruiz also complained about Knyba's constant holding and believes things could be different in a second meeting. The problem is convincing Knyba to do it again.

Knyba entered attempting to rebuild his own career following a stoppage loss to Agit Kabayel in January and accomplished that. After beating Ruiz, Knyba immediately called for a Kabayel rematch, a more inviting proposition given the German holds the WBC heavyweight championship.

Knyba has very little reason to go backwards unless the money for a Ruiz rematch makes it worthwhile. Ruiz may want revenge, but Knyba has bigger ambitions.

Maybe the biggest mistake Ruiz could make is disappearing again. Since shocking Joshua at Madison Square Garden seven years ago, Ruiz has fought only four times.

Chris Arreola in 2021, Luis Ortiz in 2022, Miller in 2024 and Knyba. Ruiz has essentially spent the last several years returning from layoffs. At some point, the comeback must end and the career actually resume.

Ruiz blamed some of Friday's showing on his lengthy in-ring absence. If he truly believes inactivity was the problem, then the solution is obvious — fight again soon.

That doesn't necessarily mean Whyte, Miller or another dangerous opponent immediately. There would be nothing wrong with Ruiz returning before the end of the year or early in 2027 against someone designed to give him rounds and allow him to regain his timing. For once, Ruiz doesn't need another comeback. He needs activity.

Before Friday, there was still a realistic path toward completing the Joshua trilogy.

Ruiz owns one of the most famous victories in heavyweight history after dropping Joshua four times and stopping him in the seventh round. Joshua dominated their rematch six months later. The series remains tied 1-1.

A third fight has always had a story attached to it, and Ruiz signing with Joshua's longtime promoter made the possibility even easier to imagine. However, the Knyba loss changes everything.

Ruiz can't realistically go from losing to Knyba directly into a major fight with Joshua and expect it to carry the same significance. But the trilogy isn't necessarily dead. Ruiz would have to earn his way back into the conversation with victories over opponents such as Whyte or Miller.

Put together a couple of victories and suddenly there is a reason to revisit a fight with seven years of history behind it. That isn't going anywhere, but Ruiz needs to give people a reason to care about chapter three.

There will inevitably be calls for Ruiz to retire and those questions are fair as he approaches 37.

Knyba dropped him heavily and he struggled to consistently get inside against a fighter stopped by Kabayel in January. The version of Ruiz who overwhelmed Joshua with lightning-fast combinations wasn't there.

Whether that fighter is gone permanently is something Ruiz intends to find out. But if he is serious about continuing, he can't waste any more time. Forget the heavyweight championship for the moment. Get back in the ring and win a fight, and then win another one.

And if Ruiz can string together a couple of victories, bigger opportunities will always be available to a former unified heavyweight champion with a recognizable name.

But another lengthy absence? At this stage of his career, Ruiz may not have another comeback left.