Former cruiserweight world champion Mairis Briedis hangs up the gloves after 15-year career
THREE-TIME world cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis has announced his retirement from boxing.
The 39-year-old, who will celebrate his 40th birthday next January, brings the curtain down on a professional career which began in his native Latvia on October 11, 2009. His four-round points win against Raulis Racilauskas kicked off a 15-year professional career which culminated in defeat against Jai Opetaia on May 18 this year.
In a statement published on social media, Briedis said: “I want to share a decision that was not easy for me to make. Firstly, because the road that I have travelled over the years has been filled with so many unforgettable moments and joys of victory, it has made me the person I am today and has allowed me to pursue new goals and achievements.
“With the deepest gratitude to every person who has supported me or motivated me at some point, or simply followed my journey, I would like to say thank you and officially announce the end of my professional career.”
Twenty-eight wins, three defeats, 20 inside the distance, eight world title fights (five wins) and a three-time world cruiserweight champion. It is a career to look back on fondly and with pride.
Briedis may have been an eccentric character – who could forget his pursuit of a fight against Jake Paul – but the Lativan legend could fight. An until Tyson Fury pushed Oleksandr Usyk all the way in their undisputed heavyweight title clash this year it was Briedis who had given the Ukrainian wizard the toughest night of his career when they met in Riga nearly seven years ago. Their unification bout was not only one of the best fights of 2018 but one of the finest cruiserweight battles ever to have taken place.
Having lost to Usyk in World Boxing Super Series semi-final Briedis managed to go one better in 2020 defeating Yuriel Dorticos in a less competitive field to add the Muhammad Ali Trophy to his cabinet of accolades.
Three months ago Brieidis had his final dance in Saudi Arabia against Opetaia in a rematch of their brutal encounter in July 2022 which the Australian won on points. Second time around Briedis showed the heart we had been accustomed to by battling back in the second half of the fight to push the world’s number one cruiserweight all the way once again.
Boxing News would like to wish Mairis a happy retirement.
