The battle for the World Boxing Super Series Muhammad Ali Trophy in the cruiserweight division comes to Riga, Latvia on September 30 when WBC World Champion Mairis Briedis (22-0, 18 KOs) faces Mike Perez (22-2-1, 14 KOs) in a quarter-final bout at the Riga Arena, and tickets are now on sale at www.bilesuserviss.lv ranging from €20.60 to €175.60.
“I’m really happy with being able to start the World Boxing Super Series at home in front of my own crowd,” said 32-year old Briedis. “We fight to win the Muhammad Ali trophy, but I am also putting my world title at stake. This is a big thing.”
The Latvian world champion believes that the pressure from the crowd can be a problem for Perez.
“For Latvia this will be the first major world championship bout in history so I hope to see a sold out arena,” said Briedis.
“From my previous experience with the Latvian crowd I can already tell Mike Perez that boxing in front of Riga crowd will not be easy for him. The boxing community around the world will learn how passionate and loud Latvian fans be!” said Briedis promising that his fans will see the best version of him.
“My preparation camp has been going very well so far and I can assure my fans that I’ll be at my best when the 30th of September arrives.”
Cuban Mike Perez fighting out of Cork, Ireland is however calm when talking about fighting in Latvia.
“Fighting in Latvia isn’t an issue for me,” said 31-year old Perez. “I don’t care where I fight, I’ll fight anywhere. I’m feeling good, I’m confident, and I’m looking forward to Riga.”
The former heavyweight oozes self-esteem before the challenge in Latvia’s capital.
“I really believe I can win the Muhammad Ali Trohy. That is just how I see it. I think I will win, I can not see anyone else winning it. I am the best cruiserweight in the competition.”
Tickets available from €20.60 at shop.piletilevi.ee
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES FIXTURES
09/09/17 – Cruiserweight Quarter-Final:
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Marco Huck (WBO World)
Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany
16/09/17 – Super Middleweight Quarter-Final:
Callum Smith vs. Erik Skoglund (WBC Diamond)
Echo Arena, Liverpool, United Kingdom
23/09/17 – Cruiserweight Quarter-Final:
Yunier Dorticos vs. Dmitry Kudryashov (WBA World)
Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, USA
30/09/17 – Cruiserweight Quarter-Final:
Mairis Briedis vs. Mike Perez (WBC World)
Riga Arena, Riga, Latvia
07/10/17 – Super Middleweight Quarter-Final:
Chris Eubank Jr vs. Avni Yildirim (IBO World)
Hanns-Martin-Schleyer Halle, Stuttgart, Germany
14/10/17 – Super Middleweight Quarter-Final:
George Groves vs. Jamie Cox (WBA Super)
The SSE Arena, Wembley, London, United Kingdom
TO BE CONFIRMED
Cruiserweight Quarter-Finals:
Murat Gassiev vs. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (IBF World)
Super Middleweight Quarter-Finals:
Juergen Braehmer vs. Rob Brant
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES AT A GLANCE
Number of participants: 16
Number of belts: 7
Number of world champions: 6
Number of former world champions: 3
Number of undefeated fighters: 9
Combined Record of participants: 423 wins, 17 losses, 294 KOs
