Briedis–Zutis Fight on 20 March Unlikely as King of Kings and Bazara 0 Clash
Latvian boxer Mairis Briedis wants to fight Kristaps Zutis on 9 January at the Bazara 0 event, but Zutis and King of Kings insist on 20 March. The organiser says Zutis has a valid contract with it.
Latvian professional boxer Mairis Briedis and fighter Kristaps Zutis will most likely not meet in the ring on 20 March next year, as had been planned within the King of Kings (KOK) fight show. The possible bout drew heated discussion on social media on the evening of 27 October, after Briedis said he wanted to fight at an event run by another organiser, Bazara 0, while Zutis stayed with the original date.
How it began
After Zutis won at the most recent KOK show, the two met in the ring and agreed provisionally to a fight. It was later announced that it could take place on 20 March next year. KOK says the agreement was officially announced on 17 October during "KOK 129 World Series".
Briedis: March is not possible
Briedis addressed Zutis on social media, saying he had heard Zutis no longer wanted to fight. The boxer said he could not take part on 20 March because a serious shoulder operation is planned for him. According to him, Bazara 0 organiser Danils Vesnenoks said a large tournament including this fight would take place on 9 January. Briedis claimed Zutis was being offered a very large sum of money and set a condition: the fight happens on 9 January or not at all.
KOK's position
KOK says Briedis confirmed the operation on 20 October, and the organisation tried to agree an earlier date with Xiaomi Arena. According to KOK, on 24 October Briedis informed it that he was terminating the signed contract because he had signed an agreement with Bazara 0.
The organisation stresses that Zutis has a valid contract barring him from taking part in other organisers' professional fights without prior written KOK consent. KOK offers a fight in February or early March 2027, or in October 2027 if health reasons require it.
Zutis responds
Zutis published a video promising the KOK organiser that he is ready to fight on 20 March and is not afraid of Briedis. He later repeated that the fight date is 20 March. Zutis recently lost to Kaspars Kambals at a Bazara 0 event and has previously appeared on that organisation's programme as well.
