Staff picks: Briedis vs Dorticos
After a long wait, Mairis Briedis and Yuniel Dorticos will decide the world’s best cruiserweight. Who wins on Saturday?
Bad Left HookNearly two years after the start of the World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight tournament, Mairis Briedis and Yuniel Dorticos will finally meet on Saturday, with Dorticos’ IBF title, the Ali Trophy, and the Ring Magazine championship all at stake.
Who emerges from the fight as the recognized No. 1 cruiserweight in the sport?
Our staffers pick the fight.
Scott Christ
I think this is really 50/50; I might not have when the tournament started, but Briedis has fought rather uninspired in two of his last three outings, and the Glowacki debacle was a whole other ball of elbowing chaos.
But I just think he’s a more well-rounded fighter than Dorticos, too, and I’m wagering that the Brieidis who gave Oleksandr Usyk a really hard night will show up, or at least something close enough to that that he’ll be able to get the better of things with Dorticos. I think it’s going to be close, and I think Dorticos might wind up with an argument, and he’s a really good puncher, too. But Briedis can grind this out, I believe, out-last Dorticos and do a bit more. I’m not confident in this pick at all, but I’m going with Briedis in a tight one. Briedis SD-12
Wil Esco
Mairis Briedis has put on one of my favorite performances in recent memory, absolutely clobbering Krzysztof Glowacki last summer. Never mind all the fouls and theatrics, that only made it that much better for my viewing pleasure, and I will not apologize for taking any enjoyment in how that all played out. Doticos, meanwhile, is someone I’ve admittedly slept on a little bit, but I’m coming around. I think Brieidis is quicker and slicker than Dorticos, but the Cuban fighter has proven that he can change a fight quick, fast, and in a hurry, and that makes him seriously dangerous.
I expect Briedis to come out trying to box early, and Dorticos amenable to that as he tries to gauge his timing in the expectations of landing his thunder. Luckily for him, I think Briedis’ legs are fading and he’ll probably have to fight more he expects by the middle rounds and just about anything can happen in exchanges. For some reason, I just think Dorticos will be able to find something big to land at some point and be able to jump on Briedis to force a stoppage. That’s probably much better than his chances of winning on the cards. Dorticos TKO-9
How to Watch Briedis vs Dorticos
Date: Saturday, Sept. 26 | Start Time: 3:00 pm ET
Location: Plazamedia Broadcasting Center, Munich, Germany
Stream: DAZN (Sign Up Here)
Live Online Coverage: BadLeftHook.com
Patrick L. Stumberg
Briedis’ weird inconsistency is made all the more frustrating by his capability for shockingly impressive acts of violence. When he’s on, his blend of pivots and murderous punching is a sight to behold; just watch the knockdown sequences against Glowacki. When he’s off, he’s ineffective and not even the entertaining kind of dirty. The former Briedis takes Dorticos down in a firefight, while the latter Briedis will have to rely on German Judging (tm) to hoist the trophy.
Call it optimism or nostalgia for the guy who nearly blasted Mahmoud Charr’s face off, but I say the former Briedis shows up. For my money, he’s is just a little sharper and a little more adept at forcing his kind of fight than the plodding Dorticos. He’s stood up to heavy hitters like Olanrewaju Durodola as well, so there’s reason to believe he can survive protracted exchanges with the “KO Doctor.” The more Dorticos forces a firefight, the more likely it is that Briedis catches him throwing. As the rounds slip by and Dorticos finds himself in an ever-deeper hole, expect that climactic exchange to come about. Briedis TKO-11
Lewis Watson
I’m finding it really hard to split these two. Briedis is more of a complete package than Dorticos, who is able to offer eye-catching combinations, mixing up attacks successfully to the head and body. He’s well conditioned, has a gas tank that is comfortable over the distance and has plenty of experience at the top table. Dorticos is big at the weight and often converts via kayo. He’s not just a slugger. His timing is often the biggest reason for his success and Briedis will have to be wary of getting countered. I’m feeling a Dorticos come-from-behind stoppage, down on the scorecards. Dorticos KO-9