Usyk vs Briedis in Latvia on Saturday night just goes to show that if you put on fights where the best fight the best, you can get very special results
Boxing when it puts the best against the best is still up there as one of the very sports on Earth.
These fights were boxers are matched in their primes can sometimes get passed over if parties involved think the fights need to be built more and ultimately, make more money down the road.
However whole trying to find this business balance, it can also have the impact of frustrating the fans and keeps them waiting.
The fans are what pay for boxing at the end of the day and if you bull the fans, it comes back to haunt you – as we’ve seen in years gone by. The sport eventually shrinks and everyone pays a vicious price.
But boxing has gotten its act together now as 2017 showed and the best are starting to fight this best once again.
Usyk vs Briedis on Saturday night at cruiserweight another fine example of it in 2018 so far. The boxing world are very impressed overall with the fight, and its eventual winner:
Usyk is a boss. Won his title and defended it three consecutive times on the road and then unified in a guy’s backyard. Proper champion.
— Babs (@Babs_SP) January 27, 2018
Usyk and breidis showed me three things
1. Usyk don’t hit hard enough to trouble the elite heavyweights but he’s a special fighter nonetheless
2. Breidis is the the real deal hard hard and skillful man
3. Most importantly when the best fight the best you get amazing fights— Papi De La Rhino (@davidthewhiter1) January 27, 2018
Great fight this!! Breidis really surprised me but I think Usyk takes over the 2nd half of this fight #UsykBriedis
— anthony crolla (@ant_crolla) January 27, 2018
Had to do a round of applause in my own living room there, what a fight, av got Usyk by a round but a draw would be a fair result, massive respect to Breidis
— Anthony Fowler (@afowler06) January 27, 2018
Oleksandr Usyk will be advancing to the finals in Jeddah. He will now face the winner of Gassiev vs. Dorticos @WBSuperSeries #UsykBriedis pic.twitter.com/h571fV746Z
— Michelle Joy Phelps (@MichellePhelps) January 27, 2018
Two judges score it 115-113 for Oleksandr Usyk, one judge had it a draw 114-114. Usyk wins by majority decision, unifies titles, and moves on to the finals. EXCELLENT job by the judges scoring this fight correctly, no Adalaide Byrd.#UsykBriedis #WBSS #MonteroOnBoxing #boxing
— I Am Very Feel (@MonteroOnBoxing) January 27, 2018
Briedis closes like a champion to take it 7-5 on my card. Usyk looked shattered there, thought he was gonna drop for a second. Both men hard as nails. Best division in boxing by a mile
— El Guru (@BoxingAsylumTom) January 27, 2018
Take nothing away from Usyk here also! He’s defeated an extremely good fighter in Briedis on away territory! Very few unbeaten fighters are willing to do this.. Usyk and this whole format is a breath of fresh air for boxing it really is.. ?
— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) January 28, 2018
We go to the scorecards: 114-114, 115-113, 115-113 for your winner by majority decision and now a unified cruiserweight titleholder and onto the @WBSuperSeries final Oleksandr Usyk!!!! GOOD JOB JUDGES!!!! #UsykBriedis #boxing
— Dan Rafael (@danrafaelespn) January 27, 2018
Cracking fight this!! Usyk should prevail now but what a performance from Briedis as well….
— Adam Smith (@SkyAdamSmith) January 27, 2018
Years later Usyk would become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Then Usyk vs Briedis world title fight at the time here was a great learning fight for him.
