WBO champion Alexander Usyk (13-0, 11 KOs) and WBC champion Mairis Briedis (23-0, 18 KOs) met for the first time in Riga before their semifinal for the Muhammad Ali Cup in the Latvian capital on January 27.
"Briedis is a good fighter, but the only thing he has is his belt," said Usyk. "I'm looking forward to the fight in Riga, it will be a great event. I am sure that there will be a lot of people from Ukraine to support me. They can count on an exciting battle between two world champions who want to qualify for the final and win the Muhammad Ali Cup."
Mairis Briedis: "I have always dreamed, like a fighter, to be part of one of the greatest battles of all time. I hope this fight will be the guarantee for my glory. It has everything to become a boxing classic. Usyk was an excellent amateur, and he is an excellent professional now, so it will be a difficult task to beat him, but I believe that I have everything I need to do so."
"It's nice to be back in Riga again," said promoter Kalle Sauerland. "This battle will be the biggest sporting event in the Latvian land. We have world champions, two great rivals, two sensational athletes. Briedis is a national hero of Latvia, WBC champion. He will be fighting Usyk, Olympic and world champion. It will be a battle full of drama."
