Three-time cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis announced on Twitter that he’s calling it a career after nearly 15 years in the ring.
The Latvian spent his first six years as a big fish in a small pond on the Euro circuit before moving up to heavyweight to destroy Mahmoud Charr with a single punch. Two years later, he claimed his first world title with a decision over Marco Huck in Germany, in the process earning a spot in the inaugural WBSS cruiserweight tournament. There, he defeated Mike Perez before giving Oleksandr Usyk arguably the hardest fight of his professional career in a majority decision loss.
When the WBSS rolled around again, Briedis reached the semifinals with a controversial decision over Noel Mikaelian, who’s since gone on to claim a world title. An ugly, foul-filled slugfest with Krzysztof Glowacki followed, culminating in Briedis brutalizing Glowacki after the bell in the second before polishing him off in the third.
Briedis would ultimately relinquish the WBO belt during the following 15-month layoff. Half a year into the pandemic, he finally got the opportunity to finish his run by beating Yuniel Dorticos for the IBF title.
After a gimme title defense against Artur Mann in his native Riga, Briedis put on a show against Jai Opetaia, struggling in the early rounds but breaking Opetaia’s jaw in return and surging down the stretch en route to another narrow defeat. Their second meeting last May wasn’t quite so competitive, as an aging and rusty Briedis failed to impose his will, but he did once again give Opetaia hell down the stretch.
It was very much a career to be proud of; Briedis remained at or near the top through multiple eras of the cruiserweight divisions, including some of the most talent-heavy stretches in recent memory. Good luck with whatever’s next, champ.