Three-time cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis introduced on Twitter that he’s calling it a profession after almost 15 years within the ring.
The Latvian spent his first six years as a giant fish in a small pond on the Euro circuit earlier than shifting as much as heavyweight to destroy Mahmoud Charr with a single punch. Two years later, he claimed his first world title with a choice over Marco Huck in Germany, within the course of incomes a spot within the inaugural WBSS cruiserweight event. There, he defeated Mike Perez earlier than giving Oleksandr Usyk arguably the toughest struggle of his skilled profession in a majority resolution loss.
When the WBSS rolled round once more, Briedis reached the semifinals with a controversial resolution over Noel Mikaelian, who’s since gone on to say a world title. An unsightly, foul-filled slugfest with Krzysztof Glowacki adopted, culminating in Briedis brutalizing Glowacki after the bell within the second earlier than sprucing him off within the third.
Briedis would finally relinquish the WBO belt throughout the next 15-month layoff. Half a 12 months into the pandemic, he lastly obtained the chance to complete his run by beating Yuniel Dorticos for the IBF title.
After a gimme title protection in opposition to Artur Mann in his native Riga, Briedis placed on a present in opposition to Jai Opetaia, struggling within the early rounds however breaking Opetaia’s jaw in return and surging down the stretch en route to a different slim defeat. Their second assembly final Could wasn’t fairly so aggressive, as an getting older and rusty Briedis did not impose his will, however he did as soon as once more give Opetaia hell down the stretch.
It was very a lot a profession to be pleased with; Briedis remained at or close to the highest by way of a number of eras of the cruiserweight divisions, together with a number of the most talent-heavy stretches in latest reminiscence. Good luck with no matter’s subsequent, champ.
