Briedis and Perez tip the scales in Riga

WBC Champion Mairis Briedis (contributed photo)
WBC Champion Mairis Briedis (contributed photo)

WBC Champion Mairis Briedis (90,1 kg) (22-0, 18 KOs) and Mike Perez (22-2-1, 14 KOs) (89,5 kg) are ready for Saturday’s Ali Trophy quarter-final at the Arena Riga, Latvia.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow,” said Briedis, the WBC champion who was supported by a loud crowd of Latvian countrymen at Friday’s weigh-in Riga.

“Every fighter in this to tournament deserves to be here. I am not a odds maker, so I don’t do predictions. I can only promise that I will do my best to win in front of a sold out arena and make my countrymen proud!”

Mike Perez brought a cake to the podium:

“I did that to show that I did not have any problems with making the weight. Some journalist asked at the press conference about a rumour saying that I was struggling to make weight. But I have not been struggling. Actually I have been eating cake all week. Latvia has great cake.”

“I am motivated. My kids motivate me the most. I predict I win. I can only see me winning this fight. I do not care how I will win. One round or 12 rounds, I will get the win.”