consensus seems to be that he gave Usyk the toughest fight....although the majority still believe Usyk edged him by a few rounds it was his closest fight how good is this Briedis guy, technically and power wise, is he underrated?
He has wins over Huck, Glowacki, Dorticos, Charr, Perez, Durodola, and a dodgy one over Gevor. He is just a very good fighter, and I could see him hanging on another couple of years, beating Okolie, and retiring as a great cruiser. Maybe not a guy who could do what Usyk did, but a guy that was a master at his own weight.
It was a majority decision but I don't remember anyone complaining. If anything I think most people felt that he won it a little cleaner than that. Good fight.
Hes very good but on this specific forum he and Gassiev got quite the push years back in an attempt to validate rating Usyk over Holyfield (which was unnecessary). That turned me off a bit. It has cooled down so its not worth me droning on about. But in 25 years I doubt many will remember or continue to rank so loftily.
You most likely are from US. These forums posters loves to bring up old eras and compare ppl. While yeah, outside of US Holyfield is more well known name than Wilder, didn't had saw ppl attemping to " validate " anything. It is waste of time and common flowchart for discussions to keep ENG language forums going: create threads and so on.
Very very good fighter. Probably would be top 10 HW right now. He would beat a lot of them. He has real power and skills for HW
Well, he I think should had picked up pro kicboxing or MMA not pro boxing. For pro boxing too much depends from country of origin, if we will be fair. For Briedis especially, small nordic type country, it is even worse than if from Ukraine or Russia or Poland, I think. For a pro boxer. He was watchable KBer in am ranks, a bit am boxer too ( wasn't am boxing star like usually european pro boxing prospects are ). As KBer he was good in ams. Not quite point fighter. Pro boxing: looks that had attempted both : HW and CW divisions, I think after Charr fight for him was even more difficult to get next fights: he didn't generated big $ and was risky, not enough well known and from small country. Then he get more exposure cos Durodola fight. For local scene looks that he then was enough well known to sell out arena, for international scene . Russia then had up and coming pro boxing prospect in undefeated very heavy handed Kudra. Kudra then had 18-0-0 (18 KOs ) pro record and was very watchable boxer. Kudra get fight vs Durodola for WBC Silver title. Durodola then was 35 and with good ranking and fight record. When Durodola sparked Kudra, he get WBC Silver title and was highly ranked. He needed some fights till title shot for WBC World title. Durodola get fight vs Briedis and lost WBC Silver belt. Fight looks that had elevated Briedis till mando status, Huck get this fight vs Briedis. Initially looks that winner of Huck vs Briedis should had fought winner of Bellew vs Makabu. Bellew had vacated belt he had get when he won vs Makabu. This turned Huck vs Briedis into full title fight in Germany. Then this Briedis turned into more well known internationally for pro boxing fans. Now? I don't know in what shape he is. He is old and had been relatively inactive: approx 15 months with 0 fights before fight vs Dorticos, then now 12 months didn't had fight. Due to he is 36 years and 10 months? old and such rust, difficult to tell. Will see vs Mann, is he able move or no.
Very good fighter with top notch power and quite mean demeanor. If you want to criticize him, then he fights to the level of his opponents. But very good boxer, tough as nails, great chin and top notch power. He was a police officer in a special unit. Imo a great cruiser and definitely top 10 heavy if he wants to move up. He would spark Parker, Whyte, ruiz and some other guys
