Big Mo has gone from visualising Madison Square Garden while working smaller events to becoming one of the biggest ring announcers in boxing after years of hard graft in and out of the ring.
Big Mo is no stranger to being in the spotlight. He was a Division 1 American Footballer in his university days and even obtained a post-graduate Master of Business Administration degree.
However, Big Mo’s passion has always been boxing and more importantly, announcing – becoming the youngest and fastest-growing ring announcer in the world.
Big Mo began announcing at the age of 23 and has gone on to host some of the biggest fights in the last 12 months – signing a long-term deal with Boxxer, which airs on Sky Sports.
But, it’s not always been so glitz and glam for the ring announcer. When asked about the early days in his career, Big Mo said he was announcing in small venues with very little crowds.
Big Mo has gone from visualising Madison Square Garden while working smaller events to becoming one of the biggest ring announcers in boxing after years of hard graft
He even revealed how his employers would tell him to tone it down given the attendance figures at the venue he was working at. However, Big Mo envisioned himself announcing at the O2 every time he stepped out on stage and delivered his speech accordingly.
The 27-year-old is adamant this was key to his success. Big Mo told Mail Sport: ‘I believe heavily in affirmation and visualisation.
‘When I was announcing small shows on the regional scene, I would imagine I was in the O2 or Madison Square Garden. I would picture that I was in those atmospheres regardless if I only had 100 fans in the audience.
‘I remember I used to have promoters or coaches that kind of told me to tone it down. But, I had to explain to them that, respectfully, I’m not here right now. I’m trying to pretend like I am somewhere else. I am announcing at a bigger venue.
‘I knew that if I did all the right things and hit all my goals I would get those venues. Now that I’m here, doing 20,000 people or Vitality Stadium for Chris Billam-Smith, it was all easy in terms of conducting the job.’
Big Mo – who has worked as an actor, on-air personality, commentator, and emcee – says he looked up to Michael Buffer and his brother Bruce. He said: ‘If I had to have inspirations it would be the Buffers.
‘I believe those two are the gold standard in the industry. I think it’s interesting that they both have very unique styles that are on the complete end of the spectrum.
‘I think you have Bruce who is really energy driven. I think Michael had a level of charisma and smoothness to how he announced. So when I was announcing I wanted to have a little bit of both. I wanted the happy medium.
Big Mo is no stranger to being in the spotlight. He was a Division 1 American Footballer in his university days and even obtained a post-graduate Master of Business Administration degree
‘Especially in boxing as I feel like it’s been a little bit dry. I think having someone who can deliver a bit of energy is helpful – especially as we are trying to enter new markets and attract a youngster viewership.
‘If I had to say I had idols or inspiration, I would have to say it is those two. But, I actually spent a lot of time researching individuals and jobs where it’s not necessarily an announcer but it’s an individual entertainer.
‘I started looking at various public speakers and stand-up comedians. I didn’t look at them because the jobs are the same. I looked at them because they are an individual person trying to elicit a reaction from a crowd.
‘I would try and take information from them and apply it to my job. The ring announcer is the only person that speaks to the audience in the arena and the audience on the other side of the camera. You have to have a level of engagement to attract both levels of viewers to connect with you.’
Big Mo is clearly talent at what he does but he insists his ability to provide more than just his voice was vital to becoming successful. The 27-year-old says his age – coupled with his ability to promote himself and the company he is working for on social media – sets him apart from the rest.
Big Mo said: ‘I started announcing when I was young. A couple of coaches and a couple of managers said, hey you’ve got something here. You have a good voice. You have good energy. So I thought I want to do this and I want to do this properly.
‘So I branded myself as Big Mo. I used to wear sunglasses in the ring, just to be visual aesthetic when I came in the ring. I started using social media etc. I just found there was a massive gap in the market.
Big Mo began announcing at the age of 23 and has gone on to host some of the biggest fights in the last 12 months – signing a long-term deal with Boxxer, which airs on Sky Sports
‘The average age was 55. Then you had about four or five guys at the top of the industry, then a massive gap. You had 80 years old, 75 years old, 60 years old, 55 and then some smaller announcers.
‘So I was thinking here’s a massive opportunity for me to differentiate myself. I also realised because of the generational gap there was an opportunity for me to utilise social media.
‘There was a time where you could look up ring announcer on social media and I was the only search result and I still am for a lot of respects.
‘I started using TikTok a lot. I started putting out micro content. I started to brand myself on Instagram too and I started pushing the content.’
However, Big Mo did admit it was hard to break into the industry given most major broadcasters had long-standing relationships with their announcers.
He said: ‘I’m never afraid to get told no. I was my own agent. I called everyone. But, every time I got to the person I needed to, I always got the same answer – which was ‘I have my guy’.
‘My answer was always the same, ‘yeah every promotion I worked for had their guy but what if I am better’. They would say what do you mean by better? Do you mean a better announcer. I would go, no. Being a good announcer at a certain level is subjective.
‘I said what if I can do more for you and the business. That would then promote the conversation about my age and my ability to use social media. I can work with sponsors, I can do commercials, you can use me more than just a guy that stands in the ring and announces. I’ve never been hired by a promotion and been replaced. But I have replaced other people.’
Big Mo – who went viral for announcing his friends wedding – took charge of his first major show last year when Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields went toe-to-toe on the historic all-female card.
Big Mo was delighted to have played a role in making history and said it was exciting to see boxing reach a new demographic after years of ‘rinse and repeat’. He also praised the female side of the sport for ‘making big fights’.
He told Mail Sport: ‘I want to help bring combat sports to new industries. I don’t want it to just be limited to the same demographic of people that it’s been suited to for so long.
‘I think maybe me being younger and me being good at social media will help bring it to new groups of people. I think the fact the first big show I ever did was the first female card in the history of he sport… maybe it was some sort of synchronicity going on.
Big Mo recently announced Lawrence Okolie’s title fight with Chris Billam-Smith (above)
‘I love to see boxing is entering into new industries and new demographics of people. That card showed if you put together a great show, you can take the sport to anywhere. I think for so long, boxing became rinse and repeat. It always felt the same.
‘I think with Shields Marshall, we showed you can have different nuances. In regards to female boxing, I think it’s long overdue in the sport. I come from America where I don’t think a lot of people knew who Claressa Shields was and she is one of the most impressive athletes ever.
‘I am really happy a giant show like that was able to showcase Savannah and Claressa. We were able to give them the platform to show what they can do.
‘I don’t know where the stigma came that just because it’s a women’s show it’s atomically inferior. I disagree completely. I actually think the women in the sport have been the driving force behind making big fights.
‘They’ve shown that the best can fight the best. Just look at how many undisputed title fights there have been recently. Look at what Taylor Serrano did. Look what Taylor Cameron did. Look at what Shields Marshall did.
‘The women are the ones pushing the best fighting the best. Hopefully the men will follow suit.’
