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Q: Tell us about your
childhood, and how you got into boxing?
A:
On an African
standard, my childhood was normal until the
circumstances of life scattered my family and
parted me from my parents and siblings at a very
young age. From there on I became a sort of
nomad or gypsy, going from city to city.
Wandering and sleeping in the street here and
there.
Nothing was
easy, and I had to survive during those
recurrent street fights and get the respect that
is needed in the jungle of the ghetto. Boxing
was the sport that those tough guys practiced in
order to bring physical terror in the
neighborhood.
Mike Tyson
also influenced me with his meanness in and out
of the ring. So I joined a boxing gym where I
had my first amateur fight within 2 weeks. I
hammered that brother with two years of
experience so foolishly that he quit in the
second round.
My coach
predicted that one day I will be a champion,
which by that grace of God I’m now and still
looking forward to more belts.
Q: How was
boxing for you in Cameroon?
A:
Boxing in
Cameroon was not, and is not, easy at all,
because the competition is high. Blood and
bones, no surrender, guys are hungry and want to
make a way out of the mud for a better future.
That’s our common mentality.
Q: When
and why did you go to Dubai, and how did it come
about that you turned professional in Dubai?
A: I have always been a
dreamer, day and night. I dreamt for a better
life, to become a champ and help and inspire
those behind me. Thank God I eventually found a
way out. Initially I was going to Europe to
continue my studies with my masters degree, but
the visa did not work out and I even got my
money crooked.
So Coming to Dubai was option
B, with the hope to go to Europe later for my
studies. But I got hooked up in the UAE, and
gave up the Europe plan until today. Here I met
a guy, Claude, from Cameroon who promotes boxing
and he happened to be an ex boxer from the same
boxing club as me. With his connections he got
me my first pro fight in 2014.
Q: How popular is boxing in
Dubai, and how popular is it in Cameroon?
A: Allow
me to say that boxing in Dubai has been quite
mediocre and overlooked compared to MMA where
guys get much more credit and rewards. But thing
seem to be getting better as the city is
attracting world class promotions.
Cameroon
got the credit of making so many champions
including a large number of Olympic boxers. But
the boxing game still got a long way to go
compared to the giant football industry.
Q:
From what I understand, you are also a fitness
model and do fitness competitions. How does that
work for you, alongside being a professional
boxer?
A: After
my second pro fight in 2014, I never had more
fight offers. The gym I worked in was a mixed
gym, combat and fitness.
Whenever
I would take my t-shirt off for sparring or
whatever reason, if by chance the fitness guys
spotted me, they would advise me to compete in
the aesthetic physique modeling stuff, saying
that I have the physical package and the look of
a winner.
I would
laugh and reject that “senseless” offer. They
would insist, and soon, because I had no fights,
I decided to give it a random try and see, you
know.
My first
show was in the beach body division, and I won
first place first time with not coaching. Just
like that I was a champion among all those 36
good looking and well experienced guys. It was
euphoric. You can’t understand that feeling. I
thought I was special or ordained or something.
These
guys had prophesied it right. From there untill
my comeback in boxing in 2018 I did over three
years of competitions in various aesthetic
fitness modeling shows, and I won many medals
and trophies there.
I fought
once in 2018 in Austria, started being more
active in 2019 with a fight in Russia, and after
that I met my current promoter and manager,
Jose, and thanks to him I have been very active
until this title defense last November.
Modeling
and boxing at the same time is quite easy, I
just have to eat right and do lots of cardio to
stay in shape for any eventual call.
Q:
Despite the global pandemic, you managed to box
four times in 2020, and win and defend the UBO
All-Africa Cruiserweight title. Was it difficult
for you to keep focused, with all the
uncertainty surrounding scheduling of boxing and
sports in general?
A: It
was indeed difficult right before my first title
fight I had a broken rib during sparring. And a
broken finger. I was tempted to give up, but to
myself I was like “shut up Rolly, you have been
dreaming to become a boxing champion all your
life and now you want to coward away from this
golden opportunity”?
So I
swallowed the harsh pain and took the plane to
Ghana, and thanks to God i won my first boxing
belt, the UBO title.
It was
even more special defending my belt with the
pandemic and all these restrictions. The
distance limit, plus having to work as a fitness
trainer with theses restrictions is also very
difficult. But God’s grace is always by the side
of the believers, and they see a bright light at
the end of any dark tunnel.
Q: How is
life for you in Dubai? Do you have a family
there? Do you go back to Cameroon often to visit
family?
A: Well,
Dubai is a very beautiful city. Life is good,
but it’s still one of the most expensive places
in the world. So to live good one has got to
work really hard. I’m currently by myself, but I
plan to go home soon to inspire my guys in the
ghetto with my belt and make them dream further
to get out of there. They are part of me.
Q: When
you are not in training for a fight, what do you
like to do in your spare time?
A: Between
my fights I mostly work as a fitness coach and I
do modeling here and there. And I also love
reading and expanding my knowledge. I still have
that university spirit haunting me and I love
it.
Actually
I’m writing a poetic book and looking forward to
publishing it. That should be good for the
boxing community, because most people consider
boxers as empty minded fighting clowns, and good
for nothing besides the ring.
Q: What
are your hopes and plans for 2021?
A: In
2021 i have planned and I wish and hope that by
the grace of God I will defend my title
successfully again if the Covid-19 restrictions
are loosened, to publish my first book and
officially become a champion and published
author.
Q: Is
there something you would like to say in
closing?
A: It’s
my great honor to be champion in the beautiful
UBO organization. it’s part of my history for
ever. Such Friendly people, especially you who
are interviewing me.
To all
the Covid-19 victims, dead or alive, I wish you
all peace and grace.
To any
young fighter who will read this, brother/sister
work really hard and dream! Dream above the sky,
that’s your only standard. If you miss it up
there, you surely will land with a handful of
grace.
Thank you
UBO!
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