Mairis Briedis is happily retired. He looks healthy and the biceps are bursting through his bright-coloured t-shirt. As we sit down for our interview, it’s clear to see the Latvian still keeps himself in good shape, having celebrated his 40th birthday earlier this year.
 
A three-time world cruiserweight champion in the Oleksandr Usyk era, many still deem their January 2018 fight the toughest of the unbeaten Ukrainian’s career – he’s since become undisputed up at heavyweight and can do it again next month.
 
Jai Opetaia’s gruelling 12-round decision win, even over an ageing titleholder on home turf, was originally described as an upset and possible changing of the guard in a division needing new life after Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) departed two years earlier.
 
Three summers on from their first fight on the Gold Coast, the IBF/Ring champion will face his eighth unbeaten opponent in Italy’s Claudio Squeo (17-0, 9 KOs) this weekend, with many wondering how long it will take before we see another highlight reel finish.
 
Squeo, ranked No. 14 with the IBF, sits even lower than David Nyika (10-1, 9 KOs) did before an ambitious short-notice call-up ended viciously on January 11 after original opponent Huseyin Cinkara (23-0, 19 KOs) sustained ankle ligament damage a month out from fight night.
 
Sunday’s matchup represents a maiden 12-rounder for the 34-year-old, making for ominous reading given the only two occasions Opetaia (27-0, 25 KOs) has gone the distance were against one of the division’s best-ever champions.
 
While there’s growing consternation about the delay surrounding a proposed unification with WBA/WBO champion Gilberto Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs), all Opetaia can do is beat what is put in-front of him.
 
“There’s always a bright spot in the cruiserweight division and right now, it’s unquestionably Jai,” Briedis tells The Ring, with IBA general director and CEO Al Siesta nearby to act as translator if need be.
 
“The problem is, the division has always been mundane and the reason is the media presence, they are mostly good guys, like Chris Billam-Smith.”
 

 
Former WBO world champion and Briedis sparring partner Billam-Smith (22-2, 13 KOs) was a comfortable 12-round unanimous decision winner against Brandon Glanton on the Eubank-Benn undercard, before compassionately reprimanding the American – in the ring and tunnel afterwards – for a series of distasteful comments made in the build-up that became personal.
 
It was exactly the sort of gesture Billam-Smith wouldn’t think twice about, leaning into his standing as a role model for young children to emulate, handled with the grace that reinforces his nickname as ‘The Gentleman’. Yet while he has a fan-friendly style, actions like this don’t exactly lend themselves to much post-fight coverage or a swell in media requests like Glanton’s fiery pre-fight statements did.
 
“There’s a guy in Latvia with 5% of Mairis’ talent but arenas are full for him and it just shows how important that [media presence] is,” Siesta translates as Briedis continues on the topic.
 
“People love stories, controversy, you don’t have to be a thug to appeal to the masses, but need something about you to engage the audience. Usyk is a perfect example, very talented with a good sense of humour, showmanship, doesn’t even speak English very well but everyone uses his catchphrase just the same!”
 
Briedis refuses to mention the name, but a quick search suggests it is Milans Volkovs (11-3-2, 6 KOs), who also returns this Sunday to face Fabio Turchi (24-3, 16 KOs) in Florence, Italy for the vacant WBO Global title. That strap was one Opetaia once held and defended, while Glanton, one-time title challenger David Light and Albert Ramirez (20-0, 17 KOs) are all recent owners of the belt too.
 
WBC titleholder Badou Jack (29-3-3, 17 KOs), like Ramirez, is a multi-weight world champion who has found a new home at 200lbs. He previously sniffed at Opetaia as a potential opponent given the Aussie’s perceived lack of star power and cache, though it’s rising with every performance.
 
“For him to understand Opetaia’s abilities, step in the ring with him and you’ll quickly find out. Jai demolished Nyika and has done the same to everyone besides me, look in his eyes and you see loads of fire there. He’s very unique, has the ultimate combat warrior-type charisma and even his pad work is devastating, it gives off the vibe that there’s a killer on the loose.”
 
He readily admits retirement was a really difficult decision to make, though a mix of lingering medical issues, promotional disputes and inactivity accelerated his thinking that the timing was apt.
 
“40 and the wear-and-tear is catching up on me. I still have a shoulder injury now that didn’t heal properly from fighting Opetaia, spinal and shoulder problems after our second fight, it made me realise that I can battle through it but don’t want to. Either be competitive or I shouldn’t be in the ring.
 

 
“In our first fight, I started too late and broke his jaw in two places, so was a whisker away from winning. I was completely compromised in the second, yet still competitive. I’m working on other projects now, politics in Latvia and wanting to develop boxing too – interest is growing but they need the right conditions to make it work.
 
“Boxing life is short but that’s why it’s very important to learn other skills, many professionals find themselves empty [after retirement], they have no qualifications or skills and a very little percentage can retire with money in the bank. Being in your early 40s and having to start life all over again isn’t easy.
 
“Now, I’m catching up on education – Maths and French with my kids – didn’t have time when I was younger, but now I’m switching music out, listening to podcasts and audiobooks while I drive, gaining knowledge all the time.”
 
The passion in Briedis’ voice is unmistakable as he talks about a thirst for knowledge, though he’s very matter-of-fact when asked about how Opetaia-Ramirez and a fantasy matchup between the Aussie and Usyk would unfold.
 
“Opetaia-Usyk at heavyweight is a very difficult fight between two amazing champions, Usyk more experienced but isn’t so young. The fighter you’ll always lose to is father time. As for Zurdo, it’s another hard fight but Opetaia wins – Zurdo is another tough southpaw but Jai has the edge.”
 
Ramirez, who ventured up another division after a big weight miss before his proposed matchup with Gabriel Rosado in March 2023, had been soundly beaten by now-undisputed light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol four months earlier.
 
He’ll make his third appearance as a fully-fledged cruiserweight against former Briedis opponent Yuniel Dorticos (27-2, 25 KOs), who has three fast stoppage victories over unheralded opposition since the Latvian outpointed him to win the IBF title in September 2020.
 
Briedis’ well-documented pursuit of a lucrative bout with Jake Paul – tattoo and all – was wisely ignored, though Ramirez will feature as the chief support on a card headlined by Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr later this month and that’s no coincidence.
 
Ramirez turns 34 in two weeks, Opetaia will be 30 two days after Ramirez’s upcoming mandatory defence. Opetaia has already told The Ring he wouldn’t begrudge Zurdo following the money if Paul was victorious, but in any case, we’re delaying the inevitable.