Moyo looks too good for Latvian Sniedze
Moyo spears Costa on the way to his biggest win to date
MUSA Moyo – a boxer blessed with boxing moves as smooth as melted butter – keeps the ring rust at bay against east European opposition next Saturday, June 10.
The Leicester based, Zimbabe born boxer faces Latvia’s experienced Edgars Sniedze at Planet Ice, Solihull, on a show dubbed “Summer Brawl II”.
Don’t expect Moyo to brawl with tall Sniedze. The gifted 27-year-old possesses too much sweet science to be drawn into a scrap with the tall visitor.
I was at ringside at the Hangar, Wolverhampton, in April when Sniedze gave debutant Jay Jay Tonks a tough four round scrap. Moyo is a level above Tonks.
Sniedze is tough, game and carries a decent dig. Edgars may have lost 38 of his 45 fights (one draw), but all his six victories have come by stoppage.
And he’s been matched very tough. British and European light-heavyweight boss Dan Azeez stopped him in five. Current English champ Ricky Summers outpointed him.
Sniedze comes to fight, but lacks the tools to unlock a talent like Moyo, who is unbeaten in five.
Moyo can rise to the top, but appears to be embroiled in a losing battle with the scales. His appetite may prove his downfall.
When he was preparing to make his pro debut at Villa Park in 2021, Pegg informed me Moyo had a style reminiscent of James Toney. The plan was to bring him down to 11st.
He faces Sniedze at light-heavy.
Let’s be frank. Moyo can make a significant statement in the sport, but not at light-heavy.
He gave a glimpse of what he’s capable of last time out. Musa agreed to fight unbeaten, thunderous punching super-middle Diego Costa at a week’s notice and, in front of TV cameras, outboxed, out-thought and out-fought the prospect on the way to a six round decision.
That upset showed what Musa has in his locker and what he can achieve. It’s now down to him.
In interview, the man is a journalist’s dream. The university graduate is articulate, forthright and, at times, controversial. He’s also a cocktail of contradictions.
“One hundred per cent I’ve lacked discipline,” he admitted before adding: “I feel hard work beats talent all day.
“I feel now is the time to put my head down and get down to my weight. It’s not a problem, per se – I mean, being inconsistent in the gym. I’ve been going through something in my professional and personal life.
“Last time (against Costa) I made a big statement,” said Moyo. “Saturday afternoon, that’s when I got the call from Jon Pegg. He said, ‘there’s a possible fight on Sky Sport against someone who is a big puncher, but I know you can do a job on him’. I said, ‘take it, Jon’. That Costa guy didn’t even test me.
“I only had seven fights as an amateur. I went to Liverpool for the national developments, beat up the guy and they gave it to the Scouser.
“I would’ve gone pro after my first amateur fight, but the bouts came quick.”
Regarding the battle with the scales, he said: “I came close to middleweight when I made 12st. I need to get back out now and stick to my diet. The Planet Ice fight is just a tick over. Jon has made the match at 12st 12lbs and I’m confident that weight will be made.”
Strangely, Moya says he has no real appetite for stopping journeymen placed before him in learning fights. That, too, will not have sat well with Pegg and promoter Tommy Owens: punters want to see explosive finishes.
“These guys have not seen me box properly,” he insisted. “I don’t want to stop journeymen because they need to get paid. I’m not that kind of person.
“If you’ve come to my fights, there’s a point when I hurt the fighters, but I pull back because I want to entertain the crowd. I’m not that person who stops someone in 30 seconds, I’m an entertainer. Put me on the big stage and see what I can do.
“You’ll see the real me against someone like Zak Chelli and Mark Heffron, I think I’m ready for those guys.”