Latvian cruiserweight Mairis Briedis has officially announced his retirement from professional boxing. A three-time world champion in the 200-pound division, Briedis has decided to hang up his gloves at 39 years old, leaving behind an impressive record of 28 wins, 20 of which came by knockout, and only 3 losses.
A true globetrotter in the ring, Briedis fought professional bouts in nine different countries, sometimes competing in front of hostile crowds. He first won the world title in 2017 in Germany, where he handed a decisive points loss to the local favorite, Marco Huck.
Briedis then participated in two editions of the prestigious World Boxing Super Series. In the first edition, he was eliminated in the semifinals by the Ukrainian superstar Oleksandr Usyk via Majority Decision after a highly competitive and technically brilliant fight. In the second edition, Briedis emerged victorious, securing the WBO and IBF world titles along the way and defeating the dangerous Cuban puncher Yuniel Dorticos in the final.
His career concluded with two losses against the rising Australian talent Jai Opetaia. In their first fight, held in Opetaia’s home country, Briedis was tactically outmaneuvered for six rounds but nearly staged a dramatic comeback, even fracturing his opponent’s jaw. In the rematch, held in Saudi Arabia this past May, Briedis absorbed heavy blows but once again put the younger opponent in serious trouble in the final rounds despite the age difference.
Few people know that in the early years of his professional career, Briedis participated in two editions of the unique “Bigger’s Better” tournament—a single-day competition where eight fighters, regardless of weight class, faced off in three-round bouts starting from the quarterfinals. Briedis won one edition of the tournament, while in the other, he was surprisingly eliminated by Croatian Ivica Bacurin. However, these fights are not listed in official boxing records.
Known for his granite chin, lightning-fast reflexes, and exceptional timing, Briedis will be remembered as one of the greatest cruiserweights of all time.