Mairis Briedis

Mairis Briedis, born on January 13, 1985, in Skrīveri, Latvia, is a renowned professional boxer who has made significant marks in the cruiserweight division. A three-time cruiserweight world champion, Briedis held the IBF and Ring titles from 2020 to 2022, the WBC title from 2017 to 2018, and the WBO title in 2019. His victory in 2017 made him the first Latvian boxer to win a world boxing title, a momentous achievement that earned him the prestigious Order of the Three Stars. Throughout his career, Briedis has faced some of the biggest names in the sport, including Oleksandr Usyk, Marco Huck, and Yuniel Dorticos, solidifying his reputation as one of the top cruiserweights in the world.

Briedis began his professional career in 2009 after serving as a Latvian State Police officer. His early career was marked by several notable victories, including a second-round knockout of former heavyweight title challenger Danny Williams and a stunning knockout of Manuel Charr in 2015, which established Briedis as a force to be reckoned with. His success continued with a victory over Olanrewaju Durodola, capturing the WBC Silver cruiserweight title and earning the status of mandatory challenger for the WBC world title. In 2017, Briedis captured the vacant WBC cruiserweight title by defeating Marco Huck, a victory that further elevated his status in the boxing world.

Briedis participated in the inaugural World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) in 2017, where he faced top-tier competition, including Mike Perez and Oleksandr Usyk. His fight against Usyk, a closely contested battle, was particularly noteworthy, with Usyk ultimately winning by majority decision. Despite the loss, Briedis' performance garnered widespread praise and solidified his position as one of the top cruiserweights globally. Briedis continued his success in the second edition of the WBSS, where he won the WBO cruiserweight title in a controversial fight against Krzysztof Głowacki and later defeated Yuniel Dorticos in the tournament final to claim the IBF and Ring cruiserweight titles.

Briedis' reign as a world champion came to an end in 2022 when he lost his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles to the undefeated Australian Jai Opetaia. Despite a valiant effort and breaking Opetaia's jaw during the fight, Briedis was unable to secure the win, losing by unanimous decision. The two faced off again in a rematch in May 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Briedis once again came up short, losing by unanimous decision. Despite these setbacks, Briedis remains one of the most accomplished cruiserweights of his generation, known for his power, resilience, and the pride he brings to Latvian boxing.

Mairis Briedis is recognized for his succinct and efficient punching technique, particularly evident in his jab. By adopting a compact approach to his punches, he minimizes the distance his hands travel, resulting in faster strikes that are more challenging for opponents to predict. This precision permits him to uphold a robust defensive posture while optimizing the impact of each blow. Briedis’s compact punching style not only enhances effectiveness but also conserves energy, allowing him to maintain strength throughout the duration of a bout.

Briedis’s jab is a prime illustration of this methodology. He refrains from fully extending his arm, opting instead for a shorter, more decisive jab that can effectively disrupt an opponent’s rhythm without exposing himself to vulnerability. This abbreviated jab ensures that he remains balanced and prepared for subsequent powerful combinations or defensive maneuvers. Frequently, Briedis employs the jab to assess distance and regulate the pace of the match, thereby keeping his opponents on the defensive while avoiding excessive commitment or compromise of his defensive alignment.

An integral aspect of Briedis’s technique is his implementation of jitter steps - small, rapid foot movements that enable him to sustain rhythm and adjust his positioning without sacrificing control. These quick steps facilitate his ability to remain agile and subtly shift his weight, which keeps his opponents uncertain and allows for a swift transition between offensive and defensive actions. By consistently maintaining movement, Briedis effectively combines concise punching with adaptive footwork, providing him with a strategic advantage that renders him unpredictable and challenging to counter.