Three-time cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis announced on Twitter that after almost 15 years in the ring, he calls it a career.

The Latvian had previously spent his first six years as a gigantic fish in a compact pond on the Euro circuit moving up to heavyweight to destroy Mahmoud Charr with one punch. Two years later, he won his first world title by defeating Marco Huck in Germany, thus earning a place in the inaugural WBSS cruiserweight tournament. There he defeated Mike Perez before giving Oleksandr Usyk probably the toughest fight of his professional career, losing by majority decision.

When WBSS got going again, Briedis reached the semi-finals with a controversial decision over Noel Mikaelian, who has since gone on to win the world title. What followed was an ugly, foul-filled fight with Krzysztof Głowacki, which culminated in Briedis Glowacki brutally hitting the bell in the second second and then getting there in the third.

Briedis ultimately relinquished the WBO belt during another 15-month break. Half a year into the pandemic, he finally had the opportunity to finish his run by defeating Yuniel Dorticos for the IBF title.

After defending his djme title against Artur Mann in his hometown of Riga, Briedis put on a show against Jai Opetaia, fighting in the early rounds but in return breaking his jaw and racing down the stretch en route to another narrow defeat. Their second meeting last May was not as competitive as the aging and rusty Briedis did not impose his will but once again gave Opetaia hell.

It was a career to be proud of; Briedis has remained at or near the top for many eras in the cruiserweight divisions, including some of the most talent-heavy periods in recent memory. Good luck with your future work, champ.

Results

• Christian Mbilla UD-10 Sergiy Derevyanchenko (98-92, 99-91, 100-90)
• Guido Vianello TKO-8 Arslanbek Makhmudov (0:01)

Christian Mbilli puts his undefeated record on the line today against tough veteran Sergiy Derevyanchenko in the gala broadcast from Quebec City on ESPN.

Live coverage will begin at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+, with early prelim action beginning at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

Mbilli (27-0, 23 KO) is potentially in prime position to face Canelo Alvarez in 2025, which isn’t a guarantee, but he needs to win today to even stay in that potential lineup. Derevyanchenko (15-5, 10 KO) doesn’t have the best record in the WL, but if you’ve seen him fight, you know he can fight, and he’s only lost to top-class fighters. It’s a test Mbilli may yet pass.

Also on the card: Arslanbek Makhmudov (19-1, 18 KO) will fight Guido Vianello (12-2-1, 10 KO) in heavyweight, and Osleys Iglesias (11-0, 10 KO) will fight Sena in super middleweight Agbeko (28-3, 22 KO) will be for many people the first chance to see Iglesias, a Cuban who started his professional career mainly in Germany, and is currently fighting in Quebec, following consecutive first-round knockouts of Marcelo Coceres and Yevgeny Szwedenko.

Live updates, highlights and results will appear in the stream below:

Shakur Stevenson spent some time in-depth chatting with his mentor Andre Ward to discuss a number of topics including being a free agent, his latest fight and fan criticism, Gervonta Davis and more. Watch the full video interview in the link at the top, plus some excerpts from what Stevenson had to say below.

Stevenson on what he looks for when signing his next endorsement deal

“I just want to be in the biggest and best fights… the same fight I just had, with Artem. If it was a name that people knew and it was like a gigantic name and I had the exact same fight, they would do it. say it’s a masterpiece. They’d say it’s the greatest thing they’ve ever seen defensively and in the pocket.

“I just want to perform in front of the names, I want to be in front of the guys that they think are so good so that I can show what level I am at. So whatever situation puts me in front of my biggest and best fights, I’m OK with that.”

On whether his beef with Gervonta Davis is real or just “boxing beef”

“It’s bigger than boxing, I guess you could say, because I like the story and everything that happened… I know [that fight] will happen. I mean, I’m the best, he’s the best. You have two best players, how can you not fight? The only way you couldn’t fight is if one of them isn’t like that and someone leaves to lose, or someone takes the L. But I think for both of us, we’re fighters who are really good fighters and that’s it level.”

About what he expects from his boxing legacy

“I think I’ll go down in history as probably the best defensive player to ever do it. I want to be one of the best, I want to be on that GOAT mountain you’re sitting on, Pernell Whitaker, Floyd Mayweather, Sugar Ray Leonard, Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali… I’m just trying to climb it and get there.

“When all is said and done, they will respect me.”