Musa: Time to shed weight and sparkle
Musa Moyo (right) lands a right hand flush against Costa
IF Jon Pegg suffers migraines, his fighter Musa Moyo may be partly to blame.
The Zimbabwe born fighter has talent to burn, skills – I believe – that can take him to the top rungs of the domestic ladder.
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.
Actually, I get the Toney reference. At a much lower level, Moyo has the same languid defensive style and the combinations are similarly fluid and effortless, as if his joints were coated in WD-40.
Unfortunately, Moyo, based in Leicester, but an ever-present in Birmingham rings, appears to share Toney’s mind-set towards weight-making.
On Tommy Owens’ June 3 show at Coventry’s Sports Connexion, Musa returns to action after nine months out. He informed me, matter-of-factly, that he plans to enter the ring weighing 12st 12lbs, above the light-heavyweight limit.
Let’s be frank. Moyo has the talent to be a champion, but not at cruiserweight.
The 27-year-old 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.”
If Pegg is frustrated by his boxer, it’s understandable. Even now, after only five pro bouts, I believe Musa would be a handful for middleweight contenders such as River Wilson-Bent and Andrew Robinson – if he can get down to 11-and-a-half stone.
“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.”
Warming to the interview, Moyo spelt out his fighting background. “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 Sports Connexion fight is just a six rounder, 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.”
Moyo has been blessed with all the tools needed to rise to the top. All he needs to do is ensure they stay sharp and remain rust free.