Standing at an imposing 6ft 6’ in height, the 28-year-old Welsh powerhouse looks to announce himself to the heavyweight division this weekend on the undercard of the Lauren Price/Jessica McCaskill WBA, IBO & Ring Magazine World Welterweight bout at the Utilita Area, Cardiff.
The card which will broadcast live on Sky Sports and promoted by Ben Shalom’s BOXXER will be Jolly’s first appearance on a major televised show but unlikely to be his last.
This is according to Helliet who in his 40 years of boxing feels that Moses has one of the best jabs he has ever seen.
Jolly, who is of Jamaican and German heritage was brought up with a troubled upbringing in the Townhill/Mayhill area and suffered as a youngster with bullying and racism but credits boxing for putting him on the right path.
As Jolly bids to carry on his unbeaten record of 8-0 (6 KO) under his team, the fighter’s mesmeric and infectious personality, is the real draw – just one of his many qualities that has the potential to make him a real star of the industry.
“I’m just bringing a little bit of jazz to boxing,” says Jolly talking about his flamboyant persona and a future attire for his pursuit to win a World title one day.
“I will come in [to the arena one day] shirtless with a waistcoat, wearing a headpiece whilst on a horse with some warpaint.
“It would be for one of the World Championships, and I would be taking the belt and changing history.”
But where did the nickname ‘the native’ come from I ask Moses. Whilst I have heard about the backstory of the man previously, I am slightly taken aback by the eloquence and thought process of the answers he gives as he also talks about the role models in sport that have shaped his life and taught him discipline.
Whilst jovial in persona, make no mistake this is a man who takes in every word with a steely determination to succeed and be the best in all aspects of life.
“The Native [nickname] came from when I was younger and the children that I was at school with were from a predominantly Welsh heritage,” continued Jolly.
“It was quite a deprived area, and a lot of these children’s parents are quite closed-minded.
“Due to that, my brothers and myself were bullied for our skin complexion and our family ties. It left us feeling like outcasts from a young age.
“Flash forward ten years, it came to a position where I was about to perform on stage for a music event.
“Someone didn’t turn up, so I went on stage to freestyle. My friend who was promoting asked me what is your stage name? and I said I’ll go with ‘the Native’.
“Ever since then it’s stuck. It doesn’t just belong to me though; it belongs to everyone to have the right to belong.
“I had role models, but I looked up more to people who were martial artists who were philosophical with their discipline.
“It was a methodical sense behind the physical practice. So, it would be Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan with his funny ways and because he was a good acrobat.
“I like Archie Moore. He was very well-spoken and articulate in the way he presented himself.
“He wrote papers and sent them off to newscasters to promote himself and that helped earn him the World title fight which he earned something like $300, whereas the champion had $100,000.
“In the end, he won the World light-heavyweight title, so Archie is one of the greats.
“Listening to people like that has been a big influence and I would like to be like that to inspire the next generation when it comes to boxing.”
Alongside his backstory of tough beginnings in life, Jolly will no doubt become a hit with viewers and sponsors alike as his team of Helliet and coach David John aim to aid Jolly’s pursuit and dream of being Wales’ first heavyweight champion of the World.
“He is going to fight on TV, and many might not recognise the name Moses,” said Helliet.
“Wait till Sunday morning and everybody is going to be raving about him.
“TV companies are going to love him and want to see him more and more because they know television boxing is about sponsorship and traction on social media – it is about money.
“We’re now in a situation I’m afraid where we will be stuck with Moses Jolly because he’s going to shine.
“He has one of the best jabs I have ever seen, and I have been in boxing for 40 years. No one realises that yet, but they will for sure.
“It rattles the opponent so much that there is so much we can do off that jab. There are multiple solutions we can face because of that.
“I’m not having sleepless nights; I am very confident. We have prepared well, and it would be really extraordinary if he didn’t step up to the mark.
Fight night, however, has not come without its problems for team Jolly. Having trained for a month sparring and preparation for a fight against a southpaw boxer his opponent originally lined up for Saturday night had to withdraw from the contest.
Moses’ team have had to face the prospect of adapting to face an orthodox fighter in 32-year-old Belgian Amine Boucetta. A less-than-ideal scenario which has meant changing their original training strategy to focus on facing a conservative and cagey boxer tight in his defense.
“The main thing is we have the fight and get the platform” continues Helliet who is under no doubt that Jolly is destined for greatness and will cope with the pressures of expectation and fighting in front of the bright lights of the Sky cameras.
Others within the industry have also been impressed too with his character and fight. A sparring session with WBA heavyweight challenger Daniel Dubois also impressing the Londoner.
Whilst that level of progress in Jolly’s career may not be quite at that stage yet. Helliet can see his fighter reaching those lofty heights if learnings are taken onboard and patience is shown in his development.
“Every single time there has been pressure put on Moses he performs and steps up.
“With most amateurs, they come out on top when everything is going for them in their favour.
“With Moses, he will perform when it is loaded for him. But in that sparring, he showed a lot of character, natural ability, skill and flair.
“In reality, it was too soon for those spas, but I knew there were people looking for sparring.
“We matched him up hard in his first fight and he came through that fine and had a barnstormer which was well received.
“I saw the effort and improvement that he had made in six-months, and I thought I’m going to help him a little bit.
“He has grabbed the advice and absorbed every word. You see all the guys in the GB squad, all the international champions – those guys you only need to speak to them once about aspects of their boxing and it is in their heads forever.
“You never see them making the same mistake again and Moses has got that [same temperament].
“There is a thing in boxing where the truth of a situation is unless they are stupid, all boxers feel fear. They have those sleepless nights and worry what if the opponent does this and that.
“The way you do that is accepting that the opponent is better than what you have boxed before and understanding there are TV cameras this time, all these things are a step-up.
“There are always elements of risk, and it could be more daunting than you think. Every single time though he has fought with the heart of a lion.
“Moses will fight anyone, but I want him to hit the heights in Boxing and be the richest man he can be. He is a very down-to-earth and genuine guy.
“I want to build Moses; he has the raw materials that you need to progress to the top level. He can be the top dog.
“To be in the bracket with Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and all of those guys but to do that we have to structure what we do very carefully and be patient.”
[Lead image: Moses Jolly]
