Oleksandr Usyk: record, next fight and profile →
Former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew (29-2-1, 19 KOs) has warned that he plans to return to his old division with the goal of reclaiming his old world title. Bellew dropped the cruiserweight title in early 2017, for a move to heavyweight to face his domestic rival David Haye.
Usyk’s handlers probably didn’t expect him to encounter such heavy resistance but they did expect him to end up where he is: in the final of the World Boxing Super Series. Usyk cruised in the opening round of the cruiserweight tournament, outclassing a past-his-prime Marco Huck in September. His semifinal fight against Mairis Briedis was a completely different story.
It’s been so much fun watching the World Boxing Super Series field whittle down at cruiserweight, there has hardly been time to ask what comes after its over. If the answer is the winner faces Mairis Briedis this fall, would anyone be disappointed? The answer might have been different after Briedis advanced in the quarterfinals over Mike Perez. What a difference a day makes.
Usyk Arrives Home Photos Gallery - Arena Riga, Lativia - In the first semi-final bout of the cruiserweight edition of the World Boxing Super Series tournament, Aleksandr Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs) won a twelve round majority decision over previously undefeated Mairis Briedis (23-1, 18 KOs) to unify the WBO, WBC cruiserweight titles in a very exciting contest where both boxers had their moments. The scores were 114-114 for the draw, 115-113, 115-113 for Usyk.
Usyk vs. Briedis Fight Photos Gallery - WBO cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk beat WBC title holder Mairis Briedis by a majority points decision to unify the belts. The two met in the semi-final of the World Boxing Super Series tournament and Usyk won 115-113, 115-113 and 114-114 in Latvia.
In a terrific fight, Oleksandr Usyk landed more total punches and was the busier fighter in terms of total punches. Mairis Briedis threw 144 more power punches and had a slight edge in power connects. Usyk dominated the jab department, landing 91 of 550 to 46 of 137 for Briedis.
Arena Riga, Lativia - In the first semi-final bout of the cruiserweight edition of the World Boxing Super Series tournament, Aleksandr Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs) won a twelve round majority decision over previously undefeated Mairis Briedis (23-1, 18 KOs) to unify the WBO,WBC cruiserweight titles in a very exciting contest where both boxers had their moments. The scores were 114-114 for the draw, 115-113, 115-113 for Usyk.
Usyk vs. Briedis Scorecard Live Scorecard - WBO World Champion Aleksandr Usyk (13-0, 11 KOs) and WBC World Champion Mairis Briedis (23-0, 18 KOs) exchanged words in Riga at the last press conference before the Ali Trophy semi-final bout in the Latvian capital on Saturday.
WBO cruiserweight Oleksandr Usyk (last 4 fights) threw 14 more total punches per round than Marius Briedis (last 4 fights) and landed slightly more. Both have above average jabs, Usyk landing 7.4 per round (throwing 40.9) and Briedis landing 6.3 jabs per round). Briedis opponents landed just 20.1% of their total punches (cruiser. avg.: 29.7%) and just 21.7% of their power shots (cruiser avg.: 37.2%). Usyk opponents landed 27.5% of their power shots- 10% lower than cruiser. avg.
The World Boxing Super Series semi-finals arrive and now we get to the good stuff. It’s boiled down now to a pair of unification matches over the next two weeks. When the smoke clears, we’ll have the first lineal champion in the division since Tomasz Adamek and the first with three or more belts since David Haye.