Photo: Vincent Ethier – Moreno Fendero (8-0, 6 KOs), a.k.a. The Soldier.
Over the past 365 days, Moreno Fendero has impressed many. His annual record stands at six victories, five of them by knockout, including the EOTTM Knockout of the Year. This stellar performance earned him the title of EOTTM Prospect of the Year for 2024.
But “The Soldier” Fendero has no intention of slowing down in 2025. He’ll return to action on February 6th at Île Notre-Dame, in the Montreal Casino. He will face Albanian brawler Edison “The Illyrian” Demaj (13-3-1, 7 KOs) in his first scheduled 8-round fight.
As Marc Ramsay’s protégé gains recognition for his prowess in the ring, now seems like a perfect time to get to know him outside of it.
Here’s “The Soldier” in 10 rounds.
The Montreal Dream
In his time, Floyd Mayweather Jr. packed crowds into the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Miguel Cotto owned Madison Square Garden in New York. Here in Canada, Christian Mbilli now shines at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City. One day, Moreno Fendero hopes it will be his turn to fill the Bell Centre in Montreal.
“Montreal is my playground, my fortress. I hope to defend it and make it my ‘Garden’ in the coming years,” says the fighter, who has also competed in Gatineau, Quebec City, and Shawinigan since the start of his career.
Unforgettable France
A message to France: Moreno Fendero hasn’t forgotten you. While he dreams of making his mark in Montreal, he hopes to one day return to the land of Charles de Gaulle to gather his loved ones around the ring.
“To honor them by showing the sacrifices I’ve made,” adds the Besançon-born athlete.
He also thinks of his fellow boxer Christian Mbilli (28-0, 23 KOs), whose career includes eight fights in France.
Football Passion
Message to France #2: this isn’t about fútbol or soccer, but American and Canadian football.
Like a true adopted Quebecer, Fendero quickly became a diehard fan of the Montreal Alouettes after arriving in Montreal in the fall of 2023. He even had a personalized jersey made, which he proudly wears when visiting France.
One Jab at a Time
As evidenced by his knockout victory over Marcos Ronner last September, Moreno Fendero is always one thunderous left hand away from “turning off the lights.” Yet, this isn’t even his favorite punch.
Attention, boxing coaches, the following words might move you:
“The most important thing for me in 2024 was perfecting my jab. That punch is the foundation of a solid offense,” he says.
Following Artur’s Path
When Moreno Fendero decided to venture to Canada, many saw it as following in Christian Mbilli’s footsteps. Indeed, a few years earlier, “Solide” left France for Quebec to work with Marc Ramsay and EOTTM.
Still, another Ramsay-trained boxer also deeply inspired “The Soldier.” Just ask him who his childhood idol was.
“Artur Beterbiev, without hesitation. It’s incredible to have boxed in Quebec with him and to now train in the same gym,” says Fendero, who began boxing in 2015 while Artur, 15 years his senior, was already well-established in Montreal.
From Bull to Soldier
Although he grew up in Besançon, France, Moreno Fendero was born in the Central African Republic.
That’s where his amateur nickname, “The Bull of Bangui,” originated. As a professional, however, he switched to “The Soldier,” having served in the French Army before moving to “La Belle Province.”
“Think Big”
Speaking of nicknames, though unofficial, Fendero likes to go by “Big” Moreno as well. Beyond Artur, another of his inspirations in the boxing encyclopedia has always been “Big” George Foreman.
“I’ve always preferred him to Ali or Tyson,” he says without hesitation.
Whether Moreno’s wife would agree to emulate Foreman by naming their five future sons Moreno Jr., Moreno III, Moreno IV, Moreno V, and Moreno VI remains to be seen…
Eminem Style
In terms of culture, when asked about his favorite movie, Fendero doesn’t hesitate: “8 Mile, about Eminem’s life—a story that resonates with my own journey and my fight to succeed.”
Pre-Fight Essentials
On the topic of culture, “The Soldier” has also stood out with his musical choices in 2025. Whether walking out to the American military chant “Hard Work” or, more recently, “Medal,” the theme song of wrestling legend Kurt Angle, his selections are always impactful.
Though his entrance music sometimes changes, one constant is the song “Cult of Personality” by the New York band Living Colour.
“It motivates me and, most importantly, prepares me mentally for each fight,” he explains.
“25 Hours a Day, 8 Days a Week”
Finally, this is Moreno Fendero’s mantra—or philosophy.
And it’s not just words. A few weeks ago, his trainer Marc Ramsay praised Fendero’s “military discipline” inside and outside the gym.
For instance, most of his Monday mornings start with an “intense” physical training session with his conditioning coach Philippe Gougeon. Monday evenings are dedicated to boxing, and Tuesdays are sparring days.
The rest of the week follows a similar rhythm, with Moreno and his good friend Jhon Orobio often playfully challenging each other to keep pushing.
“The activities vary daily, but the intensity stays constant.”
With now one month to go, “The Soldier” will look to showcase the results of this rigorous regimen on February 6th.
