Mairis Briedis

Mairis Briedis is a Latvian professional boxer. He was born on January 13, 1985, and has established himself as one of the best cruiserweights in the world. Briedis has been in the boxing for over a decade and has a professional record of 28-2, which includes 20 knockout victories. In this article, we will delve into Briedis' career, his accomplishments, and what makes him a standout boxer in his weight class.

Early Career

Mairis Briedis made his professional boxing debut against Raulis Racilauskas on October 11, 2009, at the age of 24. Briedis won that fight via a four-round unanimous decision. He then went on a 22-fight win streak, with 18 of them ending in stoppages, which included winning the IBA cruiserweight title. Briedis' first big win came in 2015 when he defeated former heavyweight title challenger Manuel Charr via fifth-round knockout. He then followed up with another impressive victory over Olanrewaju Durodola, which earned him the WBC Silver cruiserweight title and made him the mandatory contender for Tony Bellew's title.

World Title Fights

In his first world title fight, Briedis faced Marco Huck for the vacant WBC cruiserweight title in April 2017. Briedis won the fight via a 12-round unanimous decision to become the cruiserweight champion of the world. He then went on to win the WBO cruiserweight title in 2019 by stopping Krzysztof Głowacki in the third round. Briedis then added another title to his collection when he defeated Yuniel Dorticos to win the IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles via a 12-round majority decision in 2020.

Briedis' world title reign came to an end in January 2018 when he suffered his first loss against Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated him via a 12-round majority decision. Briedis then bounced back with two victories over Simon Vallily and Noel Gevor before winning his fourth title against Dorticos. In October 2021, Briedis successfully defended his titles against Artur Mann via third-round knockout.

Briedis' Boxing Style

Briedis is known for his well-rounded style of fighting. He is an accomplished boxer and possesses power in both hands, with 20 of his victories coming by knockout. Briedis has excellent footwork and uses it to move around the ring, making it difficult for his opponents to land clean shots. He is also a relentless fighter who has a high work rate, which allows him to control the pace of the fight. Briedis also has a strong chin, having never been knocked out in his professional career.

Titles and Achievements

Briedis' achievements in the sport of boxing are impressive. He has won four world titles, including the WBC, WBO, IBF, and The Ring cruiserweight titles. Briedis has also defended his titles twice and has a record of 28 wins with only two losses. He is the first Latvian to hold a world boxing title and is considered one of the best cruiserweights in the world. Briedis was awarded the Order of the Three Stars in 2017 for his contribution to sports in his home country.

Briedis' Rankings and Future

Briedis is currently ranked as the third-best active cruiserweight in the world by The Ring magazine, BoxRec, and second by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. His most recent fight was against Australian boxer Jai Opetaia in July 2022, which he lost via a 12-round unanimous decision. It is unclear what his next move will be, but Briedis is sure to remain a top contender in his weight class.

Conclusion

Mairis Briedis is one of the most talented boxers in the world. He has established himself as a world champion in the cruiserweight division, winning titles from some of the best fighters in the sport. Briedis' blend of power, speed, and skill make him a formidable opponent for anyone. His career to date has been very successful and there is no reason to believe that he won't continue to achieve great things in the sport of boxing.

Mairis Briedis Fight Record