He has devoted 25 years to sports.
During this time, Briedis became one of the world’s best boxers in his weight category, winning the world championship belt in the first heavyweight (weight category up to 90.7 kilograms) and triumphing in the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS).
In his statement on social networks, Briedis noted that this decision was not easy, because boxing has always been more than just a sport for him – “it was a life filled with passion and emotions”.
He especially emphasized the role of Latvian fans in his success: “My nation is my doping.”
Ending his boxing career, Briedis promises to stay in the sport, helping the new generation of boxers and sharing his experience. He wants to inspire others to follow their dreams, stressing that with perseverance and passion you can achieve great goals.
Briedis started his sports career in 1999, but he has been in professional sports since 2009, becoming one of the world’s leading heavyweight boxers and one of the most popular athletes in Latvia.
The last professional fight in his career was the fight with the Australian boxer Jay Opatai for the IBF world champion title in the first heavyweight, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the middle of May, and the Australian celebrated his victory.
It has already been reported that after the 12 rounds, the judges awarded Opetai the victory with 117:111, 116:112 and 116:112.
Also in July 2022, Briedis fought Opetaia in the previous fight, losing in the Australian city of Gold Coast and saying goodbye to the IBF champion belt.
At the end of September 2020, the Latvian defeated the Cuban Juniel Dorticos in the WBSS final in Munich and won the Muhammad Ali trophy, as well as the IBF champion belt in the first heavyweight and the champion belt of “The Ring” magazine. Briedis has also been champion in the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Council (WBC) versions.
The 39-year-old Briedis has won 28 victories in 31 fights in his professional boxing career, winning 20 times by knockout. Before the fights with Opetaia, he had suffered only one loss – in the semi-final fight of the first season of the WBSS in Riga against Oleksandr Usik of Ukraine.
The 28-year-old Opetaija has won all 25 of his fights, 19 of them by knockout.
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2024-08-19 18:40:26