Mairis Briedis is back throwing cheap shots, this time at Oleksandr Usyk for daring to celebrate with Ukrainians inside a nightclub. Instead of keeping quiet, the Latvian veteran decided to lecture.
“Has the war already ended that such public celebrations can be held? I currently have nothing to celebrate. As a deputy, I think about my people and train Latvians for free so that our country is strong. For now, I see no reason for dancing,” Briedis wrote on X.
Vai tad karš jau beidzies, ka var rīkot šādus publiskus svētkus? 🤔
Man PAGAIDĀM nav, ko svinēt. Es kā deputāts domāju par savu tautu un bez maksas trenēju latviešus, lai mūsu valsts būtu stipra. Pagaidām iemeslu dejām neredzu. pic.twitter.com/JiMC9BqXYc— Mairis Briedis (@BriedisMairis) August 27, 2025
Briedis Still Stuck On That 2018 Loss
Make no mistake, this isn’t about politics. This is about Riga, 2018. That night, Briedis gave Usyk twelve grueling rounds in the WBSS semi-final. Usyk got his hand raised, but even admitted afterwards on DAZN: “Those are the most difficult rounds I’ve had in my career, and we will work on the improvement of my style.”
It should have been Briedis’ proudest moment. Instead, it’s become his burden. Usyk went on to become undisputed at cruiserweight and heavyweight. Briedis faded into the background, and every few months he claws his way back into the news by attacking Usyk. It’s desperation dressed up as duty.
Recap: Usyk vs Briedis, Riga 2018
The fight itself was a classic. Usyk, then WBO champion, and Briedis, the WBC titleholder, clashed in front of a wild Latvian crowd. The opening rounds were brutal — Briedis pressed forward, making Usyk uncomfortable, and even nicked some of the early frames with sharp counters. But Usyk adapted, turned the pace, and outworked him down the stretch.
The judges scored it 115-113, 115-113, and 114-114. A majority decision, close enough to sting but clear enough to crown Usyk. From there, Usyk rolled on to lift every belt at cruiserweight. For Briedis, that was the peak.
Dancing While The World Burns
Here’s what Briedis doesn’t get: Ukrainians weren’t celebrating war. They were celebrating life in spite of it. In bombed cities, people still dance, sing, and smile, because the alternative is despair. Should they all sit in silence? Should they cry all day? Would that bring anyone back? Would that stop missiles? No.
They don’t need a Latvian cop telling them when to laugh, dance, sing, weep or cry.
Dancing in war is defiance. It’s saying, we’re still alive, we won’t be broken. That’s what Usyk standing in a nightclub represented. It wasn’t some shallow party. It was survival.
Briedis Needs To Get Over Himself
But Briedis doesn’t see it that way. He hides behind his deputy badge, acting like he’s the voice of moral authority, when in reality he just comes off like a bitter ex-champ with a stick lodged firmly up his backside.
Usyk doesn’t need his approval, and Ukrainians don’t need his lectures. They’ll keep finding light in the dark, because that’s how they stay human. Meanwhile, Briedis will keep trying to stay relevant by attaching his name to the man who beat him, hoping people still remember his best night — a fight he lost.
Last Updated on 08/28/2025
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