Joshua Greer Jr. getting his mojo back with Kay Koroma
Since teaming up with trainer Kay Koroma, Joshua Greer Jr. feels confidant heading into his Aug. 14 matchup with Jason Moloney.
When bantamweight boxer Joshua Greer Jr. signed with Top Rank in August 2018, he had lofty ambitions of becoming a world champion and the potential to make that a realistic goal. He won five bouts in a row, but recent obstacles have threatened his progress.
Greer suffered his second career defeat against Mike Plania in 2020 by majority decision. He rallied later in the fight after being knocked down in rounds 1 and 6 but lost the fight. A draw against Edwin Rodriguez in the following bout further dimmed Greer’s prospects.
However, Greer feels like he will make a statement against Jason Moloney on Saturday, Aug. 14, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, OK. He feels like trainer Kay Koroma is one of the primary reasons he will be victorious against Moloney.
After losing to Plania, Greer sensed he needed to make a change to grow as a fighter.
“I felt the situation I was… there was just too much comfortability,” Greer told FanSided. “Like I said, you can never get comfortable with this game. Working with Kay Koroma and his filing cabinets and walls and guys, you can’t get comfortable because they on you about everything. They on your a** about everything.”
Koroma is not your average boxing trainer. He’s the architect behind rising star Shakur Stevenson and has recently cornered Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis and fellow Olympian Troy Isley, along with many others. It should be noted that Stevenson is also an Olympic medalist.
Greer’s first fight with Koroma didn’t result in success. He was disappointed with his draw against Rodriguez, and doubt briefly entered his mind.
“I’m not a loser, so losing is discouraging,” said Greer. “Especially to a guy like me, so of course you have those doubts and everything, but it brings a certain type of hunger. Losing teaches so many things that you won’t always you get from a win.”
Joshua Greer Jr. is ready to prove his doubters wrong on Aug. 14 when he fights Jason Moloney on ESPN+
Greer’s hunger was also fueled by his metamorphosis as a boxer in the gym under Koroma. The more he worked with Koroma, the more improvement he noticed in his boxing skills.
“A lot of those good days going to show in the fight,” said Greer confidently. “It’ll be a great night. I’ve been doing some things, and I’m doing things I really I didn’t even know I could do.”
Against Moloney, Greer believes things will go differently than they did against Rodriguez. The difference to him is the amount of one-on-one time he had under Koroma for this fight.
“I had one-on-one time with him since I’ve been in camp,” said Greer. “I’ve been in camp, I want to say about seven weeks. I had nothing but one on one time for every day, every single minute. They’re watching everything I do. They on me about everything. No mistakes can be made.”
It’s obvious from his track record that Koroma is an elite boxing trainer, but what sets him apart from his colleagues in the sport? Greer had an answer for that.
“The mentality,” said Greer about Koroma. “The winner attitude. It’s so many things, bro. The work ethic. The knowledge. Everything. This is top 10. We’re coming from middle school basketball to the big leagues.”
Despite Greer’s collaboration with Koroma, he still has many doubters. Wynnbet.com has the betting odds on Greer as +475, making him nearly a 5-1 underdog against Moloney. Manny boxing news outlets and pundits are down on Greer, and he reads every word of criticism.
“I read it all,” said Greer. “I got a lot of people to prove wrong. I got a lot of people to take care of. So I can’t wait. Trust me. I read it all.”
Greer is motivated by his detractors too, and he has kept receipts. Moloney is a formidable opponent, but Greer believes his progress in the gym and his new level of focus will make his critics eat crow on Aug. 14.
Greer closed, “Listen, they say you wake up to certain fights. I’m woke. I’m up. I love the fact that I’m a beast. I love the fact that I’m doubted. I love the fact that most people got him [Moloney] picked to win. This is where I come from. This who made Joshua Greer Jr. I’m ready to prevail.”
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