Tag: Mairis Briedis

Pound for pound: The list will remain unchanged at least until fall

Pound for pound: Boxing Junkie’s list will remain unchanged at least until fall, which Canelo Alvarez faces Gennadiy Golovkin.

The top boxers in the world are on a hiatus.

No fighter on the Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list is scheduled to fight until No. 7 Canelo Alvarez, the undisputed super middleweight champion, faces No. 13 Gennadiy Golovkin a third time on Sept. 17 in Las Vegas.

And No. 15 Shakur Stevenson will defend his junior lightweight titles against Robson Conceicao on Sept. 23.

Beyond that no pound-for-pounder has a fight set, although No. 1 Terence Crawford is expected to face No. 4 Errol Spence Jr. in October.

Here is what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Reportedly in talks to face Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed welterweight championship in October.
  2. Naoya Inoue – No fight scheduled.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Scheduled to defend his heavyweight titles in a rematch with Anthony Joshua on Aug. 20 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Reportedly in talks to face Terence Crawford for the undisputed welterweight championship in October.
  5. Tyson Fury – No fight scheduled.
  6. Dmitry Bivol – No fight scheduled.
  7. Canelo Alvarez– Scheduled to defend his undisputed super middleweight titles in a third fight with Gennadiy Golovkin on Sept. 17.
  8. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Reportedly targeting October for his return to the ring.
  9. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  10. Jermell Charlo – Reportedly set to defend his junior middleweight titles against Tim Tszyu on Jan. 28 but no official announcement has been made.
  11. Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – No fight scheduled.
  13. Gennadiy Golovkin – Scheduled to face undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez a third time on Sept. 17.
  14. Jermall Charlo – Expected to defend his middleweight title against Maciej Sulecki but no date has been announced.
  15. Shakur Stevenson – Scheduled to defend his junior lightweight titles against Robson Conceicao on Sept. 23 in Newark, N.J.

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (no fight scheduled); Roman Gonzalez (no fight scheduled); Devin Haney (no fight scheduled); Josh Taylor (no fight scheduled).

Pound for pound: The list will remain unchanged at least until fall

Pound for pound: Boxing Junkie’s list will remain unchanged at least until fall, which Canelo Alvarez faces Gennadiy Golovkin.

The top boxers in the world are on a hiatus.

No fighter on the Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list is scheduled to fight until No. 7 Canelo Alvarez, the undisputed super middleweight champion, faces No. 13 Gennadiy Golovkin a third time on Sept. 17 in Las Vegas.

And No. 15 Shakur Stevenson will defend his junior lightweight titles against Robson Conceicao on Sept. 23.

Beyond that no pound-for-pounder has a fight set, although No. 1 Terence Crawford is expected to face No. 4 Errol Spence Jr. in October.

Here is what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Reportedly in talks to face Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed welterweight championship in October.
  2. Naoya Inoue – No fight scheduled.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Scheduled to defend his heavyweight titles in a rematch with Anthony Joshua on Aug. 20 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Reportedly in talks to face Terence Crawford for the undisputed welterweight championship in October.
  5. Tyson Fury – No fight scheduled.
  6. Dmitry Bivol – No fight scheduled.
  7. Canelo Alvarez– Scheduled to defend his undisputed super middleweight titles in a third fight with Gennadiy Golovkin on Sept. 17.
  8. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Reportedly targeting October for his return to the ring.
  9. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  10. Jermell Charlo – Reportedly set to defend his junior middleweight titles against Tim Tszyu on Jan. 28 but no official announcement has been made.
  11. Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – No fight scheduled.
  13. Gennadiy Golovkin – Scheduled to face undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez a third time on Sept. 17.
  14. Jermall Charlo – Expected to defend his middleweight title against Maciej Sulecki but no date has been announced.
  15. Shakur Stevenson – Scheduled to defend his junior lightweight titles against Robson Conceicao on Sept. 23 in Newark, N.J.

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (no fight scheduled); Roman Gonzalez (no fight scheduled); Devin Haney (no fight scheduled); Josh Taylor (no fight scheduled).

Jai Opetaia upsets Mairis Briedis is brutal fight to win cruiserweight title

Jai Opetaia upset Mairis Briedis is a brutal fight to take Briedis’ cruiserweight title in Australia.

Jai Opetaia has arrived.

The 2012 Olympian from Sydney endured a damaged jaw to take Mairis Briedis’  IBF cruiserweight title by a unanimous decision in a brutal, bloody upset Saturday in Broadbeach, Australia.

The scores were 116-112, 116-112 and 115-113, all in favor of Opetaia (22-0, 17 KOs).

The 27-year-old southpaw, who turned pro in 2015, controlled the fight with his right jab and straight lefts that consistently found the target. He evidently broke Briedis’ nose in the fourth round, as it bled thereafter.

Briedis (28-2, 20 KOs) landed his share of heavy blows, which kept him in the fight and reportedly broke his opponent’s jaw in the second round. However, Opetaia endured and generally beat the Latvian to the punch to win rounds.

The new champion showed great determination in the final rounds, when it appeared his jaw might’ve been further damaged.

Opetaia is the first Aussie to win a world title on home soil since Jeff Horn outpointed Manny Pacquiao to win a welterweight title in 2017.

Briedis, 37, has had three reigns as a 200-pound champion.

Jai Opetaia upsets Mairis Briedis is brutal fight to win cruiserweight title

Jai Opetaia upset Mairis Briedis is a brutal fight to take Briedis’ cruiserweight title in Australia.

Jai Opetaia has arrived.

The 2012 Olympian from Sydney endured a damaged jaw to take Mairis Briedis’  IBF cruiserweight title by a unanimous decision in a brutal, bloody upset Saturday in Broadbeach, Australia.

The scores were 116-112, 116-112 and 115-113, all in favor of Opetaia (22-0, 17 KOs).

The 27-year-old southpaw, who turned pro in 2015, controlled the fight with his right jab and straight lefts that consistently found the target. He evidently broke Briedis’ nose in the fourth round, as it bled thereafter.

Briedis (28-2, 20 KOs) landed his share of heavy blows, which kept him in the fight and reportedly broke his opponent’s jaw in the second round. However, Opetaia endured and generally beat the Latvian to the punch to win rounds.

The new champion showed great determination in the final rounds, when it appeared his jaw might’ve been further damaged.

Opetaia is the first Aussie to win a world title on home soil since Jeff Horn outpointed Manny Pacquiao to win a welterweight title in 2017.

Briedis, 37, has had three reigns as a 200-pound champion.

Mairis Briedis vs. Jai Opetaia: date, time, how to watch, background

Mairis Briedis vs. Jai Opetaia: date, time, how to watch, background.

Cruiserweight titleholder Mairis Briedis will defend his belt against mandatory challenger Jai Opetaia on Saturday in Australia.

MAIRIS BRIEDIS (28-1, 20 KOS) VS. JAI OPETAIA (21-0, 17 KOS)

  • Date: Saturday, July 2
  • Time: 5 a.m. ET / 2 a.m.. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Cost: $6.99 per month or $69.99 annually
  • Division: Cruiserweight (200 pounds)
  • Weights (on Friday): Briedis 199.0, Opetaia 198.5
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: Briedis’ IBF title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Joel Camilleri vs. Koen Mazoudier, junior middleweights; Faris Chevalier vs. Conor Wallace, light heavyweights; Issac Hardman vs. Beau Hartas, middleweights; Taylah Robertson vs. Yoselin Fernandez, junior bantamweights
  • Prediction: Briedis KO 9
  • Background: Briedis’ second title defense against his mandatory challenger was postponed twice this year, first when the titleholder tested positive for COVID-19 and again when Opetaia was injured in training. Briedis, a three-time cruiserweight beltholder, defeated Yuniel Dorticos by a majority decision to win the IBF version of the title in the final of the World Boxing Super Series tournament in September 2020. The 37-year-old Latvian successfully defended by stopping Artur Mann in three rounds in October 2021, his most-recent fight. His only loss was to current heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk, who narrowly outpointed him in 2018. Opetaia fought in the 2012 Olympics for Australia. The 26-year-old southpaw has cruised to a perfect record but hasn’t faced anyone near Briedis’ level of ability and experience as a professional. He’s coming off a third-round knockout of countryman Daniel Russell in December 2021.

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Mairis Briedis vs. Jai Opetaia: date, time, how to watch, background

Mairis Briedis vs. Jai Opetaia: date, time, how to watch, background.

Cruiserweight titleholder Mairis Briedis will defend his belt against mandatory challenger Jai Opetaia on Saturday in Australia.

MAIRIS BRIEDIS (28-1, 20 KOS) VS. JAI OPETAIA (21-0, 17 KOS)

  • Date: Saturday, July 2
  • Time: 5 a.m. ET / 2 a.m.. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Cost: $6.99 per month or $69.99 annually
  • Division: Cruiserweight (200 pounds)
  • Weights (on Friday): Briedis 199.0, Opetaia 198.5
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: Briedis’ IBF title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Joel Camilleri vs. Koen Mazoudier, junior middleweights; Faris Chevalier vs. Conor Wallace, light heavyweights; Issac Hardman vs. Beau Hartas, middleweights; Taylah Robertson vs. Yoselin Fernandez, junior bantamweights
  • Prediction: Briedis KO 9
  • Background: Briedis’ second title defense against his mandatory challenger was postponed twice this year, first when the titleholder tested positive for COVID-19 and again when Opetaia was injured in training. Briedis, a three-time cruiserweight beltholder, defeated Yuniel Dorticos by a majority decision to win the IBF version of the title in the final of the World Boxing Super Series tournament in September 2020. The 37-year-old Latvian successfully defended by stopping Artur Mann in three rounds in October 2021, his most-recent fight. His only loss was to current heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk, who narrowly outpointed him in 2018. Opetaia fought in the 2012 Olympics for Australia. The 26-year-old southpaw has cruised to a perfect record but hasn’t faced anyone near Briedis’ level of ability and experience as a professional. He’s coming off a third-round knockout of countryman Daniel Russell in December 2021.

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Fight Week: Joe Joyce to face Chrisitan Hammer, Mairis Briedis set for title defense

Fight Week: Joe Joyce will fight Chrisitan Hammer in London. Meanwhile, in Australia, Mairis Briedis will face his mandatory challenger.

FIGHT WEEK

Heavyweight contender Joe Joyce will return against Christian Hammer on Saturday in London. Meanwhile, Mairis Briedis will defend his 200-pound title against Jai Opetaia the same day in Australia.

JOE JOYCE (13-0, 12 KOS) VS. CHRISTIAN HAMMER (27-9, 17 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, July 2
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m.. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: OVO Arena Wembley, London
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Heavyweight (unlimited)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Jason Cunningham vs. Zolani Tete, junior featherweights; Callum Johnson vs. Igor Mikhalkin, light heavyweights; Mark Chamberlain vs. Marc Vidal, lightweights; Nathan Heaney vs. Nizar Trimech, middleweights
  • Prediction: Joyce KO 5
  • Background: Heavyweight contender Joe Joyce was scheduled to face former titleholder Joseph Parker in what would’ve been an important fight but Parker pulled out because trainer Andy Lee, whose wife recently gave birth, was unavailable. Thus, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist from London will face journeyman Christian Hammer in what amounts to a stay-busy fight as he awaits bigger opportunities. Joyce, 36, recorded a break-through victory when he stopped Daniel Dubois in November 2020. He followed that with a sixth-round stoppage of veteran Carlos Takam in July of last year, his most-recent fight. Joyce has already set a date for his next fight, Sept. 24. And he’s pushing Parker to face him then. Hammer, a 34-year-old Romanian-born German, is 5-5 in last 10 fights, although he’s coming off first-round knockout victory over journeyman Drazan Janjanin on May 28. He has been a stepping stone for a number of elite opponents, including Tyson Fury, Alexander Povetkin, Luis Ortiz, Tony Yoka and Frank Sanchez.

 

MAIRIS BRIEDIS (28-1, 20 KOS) VS. JAI OPETAIA (21-0, 17 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, July 2
  • Time: 5 a.m. ET / 2 a.m.. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Cruiserweight (200 pounds)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: Briedis’ IBF title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Joel Camilleri vs. Koen Mazoudier, junior middleweights; Faris Chevalier vs. Conor Wallace, light heavyweights; Issac Hardman vs. Beau Hartas, middleweights; Taylah Robertson vs. Yoselin Fernandez, junior bantamweights
  • Prediction: Briedis KO 9
  • Background: Briedis’ second title defense against his mandatory challenger was postponed twice this year, first when the titleholder tested positive for COVID-19 and again when Opetaia was injured in training. Briedis, a three-time cruiserweight beltholder, defeated Yuniel Dorticos by a majority decision to win the IBF version of the title in the final of the World Boxing Super Series tournament in September 2020. The 37-year-old Latvian successfully defended by stopping Artur Mann in three rounds in October 2021, his most-recent fight. His only loss was to current heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk, who narrowly outpointed him in 2018. Opetaia fought in the 2012 Olympics for Australia. The 26-year-old southpaw has cruised to a perfect record but hasn’t faced anyone near Briedis’ level of ability and experience as a professional. He’s coming off a third-round knockout of countryman Daniel Russell in December 2021.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

SATURDAY

  • Lucas Bahdi vs. Diego Fabian Eligio, lightweights, Niagara Falls, Canada (FITE)

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Fight Week: Joe Joyce to face Chrisitan Hammer, Mairis Briedis set for title defense

Fight Week: Joe Joyce will fight Chrisitan Hammer in London. Meanwhile, in Australia, Mairis Briedis will face his mandatory challenger.

FIGHT WEEK

Heavyweight contender Joe Joyce will return against Christian Hammer on Saturday in London. Meanwhile, Mairis Briedis will defend his 200-pound title against Jai Opetaia the same day in Australia.

JOE JOYCE (13-0, 12 KOS) VS. CHRISTIAN HAMMER (27-9, 17 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, July 2
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m.. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: OVO Arena Wembley, London
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Heavyweight (unlimited)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Jason Cunningham vs. Zolani Tete, junior featherweights; Callum Johnson vs. Igor Mikhalkin, light heavyweights; Mark Chamberlain vs. Marc Vidal, lightweights; Nathan Heaney vs. Nizar Trimech, middleweights
  • Prediction: Joyce KO 5
  • Background: Heavyweight contender Joe Joyce was scheduled to face former titleholder Joseph Parker in what would’ve been an important fight but Parker pulled out because trainer Andy Lee, whose wife recently gave birth, was unavailable. Thus, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist from London will face journeyman Christian Hammer in what amounts to a stay-busy fight as he awaits bigger opportunities. Joyce, 36, recorded a break-through victory when he stopped Daniel Dubois in November 2020. He followed that with a sixth-round stoppage of veteran Carlos Takam in July of last year, his most-recent fight. Joyce has already set a date for his next fight, Sept. 24. And he’s pushing Parker to face him then. Hammer, a 34-year-old Romanian-born German, is 5-5 in last 10 fights, although he’s coming off first-round knockout victory over journeyman Drazan Janjanin on May 28. He has been a stepping stone for a number of elite opponents, including Tyson Fury, Alexander Povetkin, Luis Ortiz, Tony Yoka and Frank Sanchez.

 

MAIRIS BRIEDIS (28-1, 20 KOS) VS. JAI OPETAIA (21-0, 17 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, July 2
  • Time: 5 a.m. ET / 2 a.m.. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Cruiserweight (200 pounds)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: Briedis’ IBF title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Joel Camilleri vs. Koen Mazoudier, junior middleweights; Faris Chevalier vs. Conor Wallace, light heavyweights; Issac Hardman vs. Beau Hartas, middleweights; Taylah Robertson vs. Yoselin Fernandez, junior bantamweights
  • Prediction: Briedis KO 9
  • Background: Briedis’ second title defense against his mandatory challenger was postponed twice this year, first when the titleholder tested positive for COVID-19 and again when Opetaia was injured in training. Briedis, a three-time cruiserweight beltholder, defeated Yuniel Dorticos by a majority decision to win the IBF version of the title in the final of the World Boxing Super Series tournament in September 2020. The 37-year-old Latvian successfully defended by stopping Artur Mann in three rounds in October 2021, his most-recent fight. His only loss was to current heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk, who narrowly outpointed him in 2018. Opetaia fought in the 2012 Olympics for Australia. The 26-year-old southpaw has cruised to a perfect record but hasn’t faced anyone near Briedis’ level of ability and experience as a professional. He’s coming off a third-round knockout of countryman Daniel Russell in December 2021.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

SATURDAY

  • Lucas Bahdi vs. Diego Fabian Eligio, lightweights, Niagara Falls, Canada (FITE)

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Pound for pound: Where does Artur Beterbiev land after brutal KO?

Pound for pound: Where does Artur Beterbiev land on Boxing Junkie’s list after his brutal KO of Joe Smith Jr.?

A few weeks ago No. 2-ranked Naoya Inoue delivered an epic knockout of future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire but couldn’t overtake No. 1 Terence Crawford on the Boxing Junkie pound-for-pound list.

We wanted to allow Crawford – coming off a sensational victory of his own against Shawn Porter – to decide his fate in an expected showdown with Errol Spence Jr. this fall.

No. 13 Artur Beterbiev gave fans another brutal stoppage this past Saturday in New York City. His took down fellow 175-pound titleholder Joe Smith Jr., who became Beterbiev’s 18th knockout victim in as many fights in the second round.

How does that impact the Montreal-based Russian’s position on the list? He changes places with No. 12 Gennadiy Golovkin.

Now you might have two questions. One, why not let Triple-G decide his own fate? He’s set to face No. 7 Canelo Alvarez in September. Well, unlike Crawford, we believe the 40-year-old Golovkin is in decline to some degree.

Of course, if he beats Alvarez, he can expect to move back up the list.

And, two, why was Beterbiev elevated only one place? While his knockout was spectacular, we have to take Smith’s limitations into account when we assess Beterbiev’s performance. It was an easy fight for him.

If Beterbiev fights and defeats No. 6-ranked Dmitry Bivol, he, too, would almost certainly climb into the Top 10.

Here is what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Reportedly in talks to face Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed welterweight championship in October.
  2. Naoya Inoue – No fight scheduled.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Scheduled to defend his heavyweight titles in a rematch with Anthony Joshua on Aug. 20 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Reportedly in talks to face Terence Crawford for the undisputed welterweight championship in October.
  5. Tyson Fury – No fight scheduled.
  6. Dmitry Bivol – No fight scheduled.
  7. Canelo Alvarez– Scheduled to defend his undisputed super middleweight titles in a third fight with Gennadiy Golovkin on Sept. 17.
  8. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Career on hold because of the war in Ukraine.
  9. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  10. Jermell Charlo – Reportedly in talks to defend his junior middleweight titles against mandatory challenger Tim Tszyu this fall but another mandatory has become a complicating factor.
  11. Gervonta Davis – No fight scheduled.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – No fight scheduled.
  13. Gennadiy Golovkin – Scheduled to face undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez a third time on Sept. 17.
  14. Jermall Charlo – Was scheduled to defend his middleweight title against Maciej Sulecki on June 18 but the fight was postponed after Charlo injured his back in training. The new date hasn’t been announced.
  15. Shakur Stevenson – No fight scheduled,

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Nonito Donaire (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (no fight scheduled); Roman Gonzalez (no fight scheduled); Devin Haney (no fight scheduled); Josh Taylor (no fight scheduled).

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