Home Boxing News Briedis’ trainer: “Team Dorticos give us extra fuel and motivation”

Briedis’ trainer: “Team Dorticos give us extra fuel and motivation”

Maris Briedis vs Yuniel Dorticos

With just two weeks to go, Maris Briedis’ trainer Dmitrijs Šiholajs says bold statements from Team Dorticos have not gone unnoticed at Team Briedis ahead of the WBSS Cruiserweight Ali Trophy final on March 21 at the Arena Riga.

The confidence level from IBF champ Yuniel Dorticos and his team have been through the roof in the build-up proclaiming a KO and a spiritual tie to the greatest of all time. They are on a quest to write history and bring the Muhammad Ali Trophy to Miami, Florida.

“We see how Dorticos’ team is trying to convince themselves and everybody else on how strong they are but it only gives us extra fuel and motivation to train for the bout!” said Dmitrijs Šiholajs who became Briedis’ trainer after the semi-final loss to Aleksandr Usyk in January 2018.

“The history of boxing has proven that the less you talk, the more time you have to get ready and be better.”

And Team Briedis declares ready for one of the biggest sporting events ever on Latvian soil.

“The camp is going well, we’re working towards being ready for a full 12 round final. Only God will decide who’s worthy of having the Muhammad Ali trophy in his possession. But Mairis Briedis is ready to fight for it!”

Tickets for the incredible Mairis Briedis vs Yuniel Dorticos Ali Trophy showdown on March 21 are on sale from €29 via bilesuserviss.lv.

The final will be broadcast live on DAZN in the U.S. Fans can visit DAZN.com or download the DAZN app to their preferred connected device.

The road to Riga:
Mairis Briedis and Yuniel Dorticos took parallel routes to the cruiserweight final of the WBSS. Briedis beat Noel Mikaelian on points in his quarter-final in Chicago and stopped Krzysztof Glowacki in Riga via TKO in the third round of a dramatic semi-final. Dorticos claimed a points victory over Mateusz Masternak in Chicago and a 10th round knockout of Andrew Tabiti in Riga – a KO that earned the ‘KO Doctor’ the ‘Knockout of the Year’ prize across multiple media.

Muhammad Ali Trophy champions:
2018-19: Naoya Inoue, Bantamweight
2018-19: Josh Taylor, Super-Lightweight
2017-18: Aleksandr Usyk, Cruiserweight
2017-18: Callum Smith, Super Middleweight