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Mairis Briedis vs. Yuniel Dorticos: Uppercut could be the key

Fight for all the marbles this Saturday

By Allan Cerf

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Briedis - Dorticos Sept 26
Briedis - Dorticos Sept 26

Particulars: Saturday, September 26, 2020 (Happy Birthday Roxane) from The Plazmedia Broadcasting Center, Munich, Germany (DAZN) it’s Mairis Briedis of Latvia vs. Yuniel Dorticos of Cuba, for the IBF belt and (second) Cruiser Weight Ali Trophy.

 

Background: Not so long ago, Mairis Briedis was one of the brighter potential stars in world boxing and considering that he’s lost only once – to the brilliant Oleksandr Usyk, maybe he still should be.  Alas, in about four months he’ll be 36.  But then, Dorticos will be 35 in six.

 

There are three types of former Cuban fighters: The great ones which validate the Cuban system as the Mt. Rushmore of boxing schools (Rigondeaux, Stevenson) the good ones (Yuriorkis Gamboa, anyone?) and those, like Dorticos who make you wonder if Cuban boxing mystique is overrated.  Dorticos is firmly in the latter camp.

 

Fighter’s Grades: (Speed, Power, Defense, Reach, Age, Stamina, Experience)

 

Mairis Briedis: B+ B B B- C B A (Average of all) B (3.0)

 

Yuniel Dorticos:  B B B  B+  C B B (Average of all) B- (2.9)

 

Reality Check: What is it with Eastern European fighters and uppercuts?  It’s not just that they throw my favorite punch, one which is often incredibly effective for right-handed boxers – the left uppercut, but they throw it more than anyone outside of say, Antonio Margarito. 

 

In an awesome fight, Murat Gassiev absolutely decapitated Dorticos with the left uppercut.  Not that left jabs and hooks weren’t effective too, in smashing the Cuban, but the left uppercut was the difference.  It just goes to show how truly incredible Usyk is; not only did he beat Gassiev, but caused Murat to essentially concede the fight very early on. 

 

Dorticos may come from Cuba but he’s got really serious flaws.  90-year old’s in the Ozarks show more head movement vs. mosquitos than Dorticos does against men determined to beat his brains out.  Remember Roy Jones shaming boxers who are “front-foot heavy?”  Dorticos manages to be back foot heavy.  It’s like his right leg is imbedded in cement.  Mobility is not his forte.

 

Shortcomings aside, Dorticos has a tremendous 80’ reach, is tough and courageous as they come and has some good punches.  His left jab is probably his best punch though it’s the straight right which has earned him a glittering 88% KO ratio – against generally less-than-luminous opposition.  Neither fish nor fowl, he’s relatively effective either coming forward or as a counter puncher.  He’s like an orphan- he has a unique survival-type style – far removed from (whatever) pantheon of fundamentals the Cuban system is supposed to represent.

 

Again - his jab that he varies constantly is excellent, and interestingly, Dorticos throws a good inside jab too, despite very long arms.   

 

If Briedis wasn’t long in the tooth, it would be no contest – Briedis all the way.  The dude has blinding fast-twitch single shots from both hands and is a solid combination puncher- just don’t look for 7-10 shots per flurry.  His fundamentals are way better than Dorticos.   He lost only to Usyk by majority decision in an enthralling fight.

 

Fight and Prediction: As John Raspanti, Editor and I, don’t have spies in fighter camps, we don’t have the essential “how’s he looking in camp?” hookup.  Sometimes we do, in this case, probably not!

 

We do know that Briedis is two inches shorter and has a five-inch reach disadvantage to Dorticos.  All boxing fans know that promoters do have favorites and that this influences judges most of the time and referees some of the time. 

 

Briedis throws a superb left uppercut and if he gets that going against Dorticos, the Cuban is in big trouble.  He simply is incapable of defending the uppercut – and can be hit with every other punch thrown with the left paw by a right-handed boxer. 

 

I don’t live in Silicon Valley anymore, but when I worked there was often told by various bosses: “we don’t have enough data.”  I will claim this and say “who knows?”  Who knows how these dudes looked in camp or who the power brokers favor?  Which fighter if either is “old overnight?” 

 

Briedis by skill and training, is a much better fighter.  I’m going to say either fighter could eke out a decision in a fight that should have some tremendous moments.  So, I’ll split the difference and call for a draw.  But – if Briedis can get the left uppercut going, Dorticos will lose and take a beating in the process.

 

Briedis-Dorticos Draw 12.

 

 

 

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