Mairis Briedis (17-0, 14 KOs) sent favorite Manuel ?Diamond Boy? Charr (28-4, 16KOs) to Syrian Dreamland at the Akhmat Arena, in Grozny, Russia. Referee Irakly Malazonia stopped the fight officially at 2:55 of round five but Charr was prone on the canvas from the lightening-fast uppercut ?left hook combination that rendered him unconscious even before he hit the canvas. It was a scary knockout and had Briedis, who displayed uncommon sportsmanship, very concerned. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwx51o99MQg
Up until the KO, the 245 pound Charr was walking down the much lighter 213 pound Briedis looking unbothered by what the unknown Latvian was offering. As Charr plodded along and threw heavy shots, out of the blue came the two ?punch combo with the right uppercut doing most of the damage and the following left having academic results. After all, it?s difficult to knock out someone who is unconscious.
Whether Charr can regroup from this loss remains to be seen, but it certainly puts Mairis Briedis?s name on the map though it would be much better for him if he could fight as a cruiserweight.
Charr lost by MD to Deontay Wilder?s next opponent, Johann Duhaupas, in April but bounced back a month later to beat Alex Leapai in Moscow. There was nothing on Briedis?s ledger to suggest that he would have KOd Diamond Boy? except an impressive 82% KO percentage.
