Moyo needs to win his battle with scales

Musa Moya…a boxer blessed with so much natural ability

THERE’S a frustration about watching Musa Moyo, a boxer with talent to burn.

The frustration is spurred by the fact Moyo, billed from Hinckley, at times appears in danger of tossing that talent on the bonfire of what-might-have-beens.

The 27-year-old has the skills and effortless combinations to mix it with the best at super-middle or middle.

Now unbeaten in six, he showed his worth last September when he faced unbeaten, big punching Diego Costa at short notice and came away with clear points victory.

The problem associated with Moyo was illustrated on Tommy Owens’ bumper, 12 bout Saturday night bill at Planet Ice.

Against tall Edgars Sniedze he weighed 13st 4lbs 6oz – and he looked like a man carrying far too much excess baggage. He looked like a man fighting way outside his division.

And that showed against Sniedze, from Latvia, a fighter who has won six of 46 bouts (one draw).

Moyo had too much of everything for his opponent, taking a six round 59-55 decision on ref Jamie Kirkpatrick’s card.

But he looked below his best and even allowed Sniedze to grab the initiative in the first with lead left hooks.

That should not have happened and it happened because, at cruiserweight, Moyo remains one paced.

He still has the smooth moves, but top gear is a struggle.

He didn’t need it against Sniedze (13st 1lbs) who showed bravery and kept plugging away. Moyo rolled under his long arms and connected with clusters, a particularly heavy left hook thudding home in the fourth.

With blood spilling from his nose, Sniedze, to his credit, went for it in the fourth and also landed a stiff right in the fifth.

Moyo took them and came back with classy combinations to seal victory.

How to handle and guide the conundrum that is Musa Moyo is a potential headache for manager Jon Pegg.

Moyo insists you’ll see the best of him when he faces the best.

But to face the best, a boxer has to reside – temporarily at least – in their weight division. And, unless Musa sees the light, that may be his undoing.