Moses Jolly is not your typical heavyweight. He’s not even your typical boxer – and that’s just the way he likes it.
The giant from Swansea has been building one of the biggest nights of Welsh boxing for several years.
There will be many eyes on the main event at the Cardiff Utilita Arena on Saturday as Lauren Price bids to become Wales’ first women’s world champion against Jessica McCaskill, but the night could also prove important for Jolie as she looks to write an exciting new one. A chapter that many believe is a career destined to reach the top.
Unbeaten in eight outings, Saturday’s clash with Belgium’s Amin Buchetta is his biggest and he intends to enjoy every second of it.
Yet the 28-year-old has ambitions that dwarf his hulking 6ft 6in frame and go beyond his well-publicised knee in the capital. The ultimate prize in Wales to become Wales’ first heavyweight champion of the world is the ultimate Eldorado, and the road there is filled with many nights like this.
“In boxing I want to be the first Welsh-born heavyweight champion of the world, but in life I want to make a difference that will mean something to a huge number of people,” he says.
The intense gaze of the Sky Sports cameras and the bumper audiences that come with it are not what he is used to. That said, there is little sign of any pressure. On the contrary, he exudes the confidence and charisma one would expect from a fighter who has graced the stage many times.
Given the doors it can open, winning is clearly the most important thing. But judging by his antics this week, attendees should be in for a treat, too. His background in music and dance, mixed with the fiery aggression that once got him arrested at the age of 16, combines a unique and compelling fighting style that balances ferocity and grace. It’s like a swan moving in a lake, roaring from a machine gun.
There aren’t many heavyweights who can move like him – and he clearly knows it.
“I put in so much work and there are people who pay so much money to watch the show,” he says. “People need to get the best out of the investment, which is me fully expressing myself. When they get that, they get full authenticity, and hopefully it’s going to be an amazing show.
“My technique means I’m more likely to look for a stoppage, but at the same time it’s not something I’m going to push hard for. I’m just focused on putting on an entertaining show for whoever’s watching.”
Jolly is excited to entertain. For him it is art. The ring is his stage. his canvas. A domain more conducive to self-expression than any other.
Fans have already peeked behind the proverbial curtain. The video of his training open to the media has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media. Cartwheels, dance moves, spinning in the ring. All this would not look out of place at the College of Performing Arts. It is no wonder that it has attracted a lot of attention.
“I’d just say I bring a bit of jazz to boxing,” he laughs. “I like to make something more interesting. I like to play the black keys when everyone else is playing the white keys.
“It changes the tune. But that’s not what I’ll be doing on Saturday. It’s going to be more about boxing, although there might still be a bit of movement and movement.”
Cynics, perhaps accustomed to a regular diet of sturdy concrete-legged and iron-glove heavyweights, might dismiss it all as performative window dressing. Style over substance. But, according to Jolie, all this makes real sense.
“The movements help me relax,” she says. “It helps me get my weight distribution and it makes me more in tune with my body. So even though it might look a little weird and awkward in a traditional boxing sense, it’s all about body movement. And composition.
“People might say it’s not boxing, but moving like that means you can throw some serious punches.
“In the traditional sense of boxing, I’m down to earth and I understand the fundamentals and the fundamentals. Come Saturday, we’ll show what we know.
“I’m really excited about it. I’m excited to see Lauren Price win the world title to make history for British and Welsh boxing.”
Whatever the reasoning, Jolie’s energy and eye-catching performance clearly help fuel the fun. He was also instrumental in persuading current manager Mickey Helliet to fulfill his potential.
Helliet freely admits that he was reluctant to accept it at first. Indeed, Jolie’s irresistible amateur record made her difficult for any manager.
“We met outside a bar in London’s West End,” recalls Helliet. “David [Moses’ trainer] End up with this guy, 6ft 6in Lionel Richie lookalike.
“While we were in the pub, the music came on and I saw him dancing. Not for long, but long enough to know that it had this rhythm and this movement. Big boys usually have no rhythm. They are strong and can move fast, but they have no rhythm.
“I just thought if he could make it a part of his boxing then it would be very interesting.
“Every time he had to step up, his performance was better than I expected.
“There aren’t many fighters who can handle the work rate, the power, the variation of attack that he has with his boxing mind, which is getting stronger and stronger. He’s developed at a rate that I could never have imagined.”
Jolie’s development means she may soon have to give up her job as a roofer, which still pays the bills.
“I still do it now,” he says with a smile. “Business is good, but at the same time, I’ve been told I might have to give it up. But as long as boxing pays well enough, I’ll keep going. It’s all well connected. It’s a good work-life balance. I’m just grateful to be able to do it all.
“Hopefully this will lead to more TV shows. Then I want to challenge for the titles. I want the home title first, but when the time comes, the time will come and I’ll leave Mickey to do what he’s great at. I’m not going to interrupt that department to be a student and listen To him and my coach.
Saturday feels like a potential milestone and hopefully the first of many big nights. Helliet certainly has no doubt that there is more to come.
“Every question mark I’ve had with Moses so far, he’s answered 10 out of 10. 100 out of 100,” he added. “He was never found wanting in heart or effort.
“I think it’s a dream come true for us. We’ve talked about it many times. There’s not a lot that can be presented to us that we haven’t gone through from top to bottom. We know what we are. It’s headed our way.
“I think we’re in as good a place as we could be. Moses will tell you it’s going to be a boxing showcase. I’ve seen him in the gym and he’s on fire.
“Cus D’Amato trained a guy named Mike Tyson, you’ve probably heard of him! He said he always looked for bright wind in a fight. Then I light the embers, pour the fuel, and then I get the fire.
“Moses is a raging fire now. He’s ready to go.”
#Welsh #roofer #plan #heavyweight #boxing #champion #world