Mairis Briedis Ponders Move To Heavyweight After WBSS Win

Mairis Briedis is considering a move to heavyweight after beating Yuniel Dorticos in Saturday’s Season II World Boxing Super Series Cruiserweight Final.

Briedis previously fell short in the semi-final of Season I against Aleksandr Usyk. After a close, competitive fight Usyk emerged victorious by majority decision. The judges’ scorecards were 114-114 and 115-113 twice in favour of the eventual tournament winner.

The 35-year-old redeemed himself this past weekend when he beat Dorticos by scores of 114-114, 117-111 to win the Muhammad Ali Trophy.

“It feels fantastic to have won the Muhammad Ali Trophy, it feels like a dream,” Briedis told Boxing Scene. “Me, my team, my family have been waiting for such a long time for the trophy. Thank God we did it, and I am really happy about it.”

“I was down after the Usyk-fight,” said Briedis. Usyk was better that night, and it is what it is.

“But looking back I can see that a lot of things around me and in my team have changed. And everything has gone better since that fight. I really don’t know if I would have won that night if my career would have advanced the way it has.”

“In the first rounds I felt how dangerous Dorticos is, but I got used to his style, and in the later rounds we didn’t risk too much, we just boxed what we had prepared. I’m very satisfied with my performance.”

“I hope I produced a fight for the Latvian fans to be proud of me. The fans couldn’t be at the arena, but at least through TV I hopefully brought them emotions.”

The newly crowned IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight champ at 200lbs is now considering following Usyk up to heavyweight but first will take some time to enjoy his win.

“I am considering a move to heavyweight,” said Briedis. “But right now I will rest a bit before I make any decisions.”

Do you think Mairis Briedis should move up to heavyweight?