From Police Officer to cruiserweight boxer, Mairis Briedis has set his sights on winning the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) and lifting the Muhammad Ali Trophy, but first he faces Krzysztof Glowacki in the cruiserweight semifinal on June 15 in Riga, Latvia live on DAZN.
Sporting News caught up with the Latvian WBC Diamond belt holder after the final press conference.
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Sporting News: What would it mean to you to lift the Muhammad Ali Trophy and write your name into Latvian boxing history?
Mairis Briedis: It’s my dream, but when you open your eyes you must work very hard in order to fulfill your dreams.
SN: So how did you get into Boxing?
MB: I started boxing when I was 14. When I was at school the other kids used to punch me and then God saw this and showed me the way to boxing. There was one guy, he was walking through the forest and a man asked him if he wanted to go boxing, he said OK, and he gave him his number. But as he didn’t want to go boxing on his own, he asked everyone at school they all said no, and he asked me last and I said yes.
The first time I went, I took a punch to the nose and it started bleeding. And I thought to myself "Oh, this isn’t like the Rocky movies, its different." Then I gave myself to the sport and I love boxing.
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SN: Who would you say is your favorite boxer?
MB: I don’t have one, there are many great ones. I think most people say Muhammad Ali, he was a great fighter but sometimes I like Mike Tyson, sometimes Roy Jones Jr. It’s like music, every day you like different music, maybe someone listens to the same song every day, but I don’t.
SN: You will be fighting once again in front of your home fans, in your home city on June 15. Does that give you added pressure to perform or does it give you a boost that the crowd will be willing you on?
MB: I think this is two-in-one, it’s a huge responsibility for me but the fans will give me extra power when the rounds get tough, they’ll help me move forward when I get my second wind.
SN: Who do you think you will face in the final if you overcome Krzysztof Glowacki — will it be Yuniel Dorticos or Andrew Tabiti?
MB: At the open workout, I saw how Dorticos was moving, because usually he stands there and punches one-two, one-two, now he is moving. Maybe he added something new to his style, but I think 55 percent Dorticos, 45 percent Tabiti. But we don’t know what has happened in the training camp, how he is feeling here in Latvia, if he is acclimatized. There are many things that can happen in training camp and the fight week.